Donations needed for OCSD canine Rye

The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department is currently raising funds to support its police canine, Rye. 

“The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 program is completely funded by the gracious donations from citizens and businesses of Ozark County,” OCSD Sheriff’s Deputy and canine handler Justin Brown said recently. “We are asking for support to help fund this valuable program in the sheriff’s department.” 

Brown says the canine’s $6,000 to $10,000 in yearly expenses include continued training, veterinarian care, food, boarding and other essential needs. 

Rye has been a valuable asset to the department already, helping locate drugs in a variety of different situations. 

“A K-9’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than ours,” Brown said. “For every scent receptor we have, a dog has 50. Our K-9 can smell drugs in a vehicle, track a person who may be running from deputies, track and locate a child or adult that has walked away from their home….They can even locate an item that someone may have dropped in the grass when committing a crime.”

Donation checks can be made payable to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department K9 Program and mailed to 1818 County Road 806, Gainesville, MO 65655.