Green Valley to Host Golf Scramble for K-9 Unit.

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Few people may know that the K-9 Unit of the Zanesville Police Department receives no money from the city. The cost of training and taking care of the dogs comes entirely from private donations and fundraisers.

The Green Valley Golf Course on Dresden Road will be hosting such a fundraiser for the K-9 Unit, with their second annual four-person golf scramble. Fred Buck, who is the Safety Director for the City of Zanesville said all the funds raised at the event will go towards the expense of taking care of the police dogs.

“We actually receive no money from the city,” said Buck. “What we try to do is raise money for training, for our vet bills, for feeding the animals, and basically taking care of them.”

At last year’s inaugural golf scramble over $8,000 was raised for the ZPD K-9 unit and those running the scramble hope to reach that goal again this year. Buck also said that a city that has a privately funded K-9 unit is a unique situation, but it is all the more reason for a need for events like Friday’s golf scramble.

“[The K-9 unit] is something we started with one officer several years ago with John Booth. I believe he was the first one to have a K-9 unit. He actually purchased his own, trained his own, and then it has just evolved from there. We now have one each shift, and three overall. It works out really well for us. They are a huge benefit for the department,” said Buck.

The scramble is May 20 from noon till 4 p.m. and will include a lunch. Buck said anyone interested can still register a four-person team till Friday by calling him at (740) 455-0601. Walk-ups will also be accepted the day of the scramble.