Donation to Dane County K9, Inc.

April 04, 2022
Lt. Gary Vandivier, (608) 284-6155
Sheriff's Office

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office and Dane County K9, Inc. will be holding a press conference at 1:00pm today at the Ferris Center to accept a generous donation to DCK9, Inc.  The donation will cover the cost of a new canine along with the training of a new K9 handler. 

The Dane County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit proudly serves the citizens of Dane County, including the City of Madison, which is the state's capital and home to the University of Wisconsin.  The K9 Unit is also requested to respond to communities throughout the State of Wisconsin.

The Dane County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit is not fully funded by public funds (tax dollars).  Prior to the founding of Dane County K9, Inc., the K9 handlers spent thousands of dollars out of their own pockets to purchase and maintain their K9 partners.  Annually, the K9 Unit needs financial assistance for advanced training and to purchase updated equipment.  A new K9 generally costs between $10,000 and $12,000.  If we need to replace a K9 handler at the same time, the basic training for a new handler can add another $5,000 to $7,000 to this cost.

In addition to the replacement of K9s and/or handlers, there are several other significant costs involved that Dane County K9, Inc. provides assistance.  Dane County K9, Inc. has been fortunate to have the support of many businesses, individuals, and foundations.  Donations to Dane County K9, Inc. not only help us provide for the long-term financial needs of the team but also serve as an investment back into the communities the team serves.

Dane County Sheriff’s Office and Dane County K9, Inc. want to thank Chris Carlson for his generous donation.