A significant donation from a private citizen is helping the Glendale Police Department keep its K-9 unit afloat.
Officer Eric Guse, the department's only K-9 officer, said the unit is funded entirely through donations. His K-9, Boomer, is eight years old.
Guse said Boomer's day-to-day expenses typically total between $2,000 and $3,000 each year. But this year, Boomer required a pair of pricey surgeries.
A surgery to remove the dog's spleen cost $5,000. A second surgery to treat a severe infection came with a price tag of more than $2,000.
"Those two surgeries depleted our K-9 fund down to pretty much zero," Guse said.
But a $1,000 donation from Pam Hodermann, who according to the officer is an animal lover and wanted to help, was crucial in replenishing the K-9 fund.
"Whatever's in the K-9 fund goes towards the maintenance of the dog," Guse said. "This is a tremendous donation that means so much to me and to our program."
Guse said Boomer is useful in sniffing out drugs. He's also an important part of the police department's work to track down suspected criminals.
"About two months ago, he located an armed robbery suspect from Shorewood," Guse said. "Last month, he located a subject hiding in a garbage cart after a chase and crash. That subject is in jail right now for recklessly endangering safety."
