BEND, Ore. -

The Bend Police Department will be hosting the 5th annual ?Central Oregon Police K-9 Trials.? This year?s event will be held noon to 3 p.m. at Bend Senior High School on Saturday, June 30th.

The competition is an opportunity for K-9 teams throughout the state to demonstrate their skills and hard work, while helping to raise money for both retired and active police canines. There will be five events this year; agility, area search, handler protection, fastest dog, and an apprehension call off. Awards will be given out to the top three dogs in each event, and the overall ?Top Dog? will receive the Helen Lorenz award.

The trials began six years ago in an effort to provide much needed medical coverage for our retired police canines as well as in-service police canine?s equipment and training. When police K-9?s are retired, they often leave their service with aliments accrued from their years of service. Unfortunately, medical coverage for the dogs ends with their retirement, and the expense falls upon the owners who have chosen to take care of these dogs in their ?golden years?. Money raised will also be used for active police K-9?s equipment, training and maintenance.

We are currently looking for sponsors for each event, and for prizes to be raffled off during the event. Any donations are welcomed, and to sponsor an event is donation of at least $100.00. Your donations and sponsorships are 100% percent tax deductible, and will help defer some of the cost of providing this event free to the public. There will be space available for businesses that wish to set up a vending booth.

The Central Oregon Police K-9 Trials are going to be a day of fun for the whole family and an opportunity to show your support the K-9 teams in your area. Please help us in making this event a success. For information on how you can help, or to make a donation please contact:

Officer Leo Lotito

Bend Police Department

555 N.E. 15th

Bend, OR 97701

(541) 322-2960 Ext 3581

Bend Police Association Tax# 23-7376022. Checks can be made out to the Friends of Police K-9.