‘Plenty’ of K-9 calendars left for purchase

Metro Wire Staff

The first-ever Central Wisconsin Regional K-9 Law Enforcement Teams Calendar hit the stands on Oct. 15, but sales have been sluggish.

The calendars were made possible by Wausau-area photographer Amy Zondlo, Moxy Creative and Spectra Print.

Participating departments in Portage, Marathon, Lincoln, Wood, and Taylor counties each received a portion of the initial 1,230-run based on the number of dogs they have, according to Eric Hofmeister, owner of Spectra Print.

Hofmeister added he’s willing to donate another press run if the calendars sell out.

The calendar is the latest fundraising effort for local K-9 departments, who also offer t-shirts and plush dogs for sale. All proceeds benefit local K-9 units, which run solely on private donations.

The county’s five K-9 dogs have collectively been deployed over 500 times during 2018. Plover has one K-9 unit, and the Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office has two.

According to K-9 handler JD Ballew, dogs in Stevens Point have helped seize narcotics and guns during traffic stops, located missing persons, and in one case, helped catch a child sex offender.

Stevens Point police just launched their two K-9 units in April with a fundraising goal of $50,000. So far, Ballew said, they’ve raised about $28,000.

Calendars can be purchased for $20 at the Plover Police Dept., 2420 Post Rd., the Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office, 1500 Strongs Ave., or the Stevens Point Police Dept., 933 Michigan Ave.