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Health & Fitness

Wisconsin Police K-9's Needed Now More Than Ever

The 2nd Annual MECA VEST A K-9 FEST Will be held on Saturday, July 20th from 10am - 3pm. Fun, Food, Entertainment, Police dog demonstrations and Milwaukee Major League Baseball players!

Fox Sports Network Teams Up With Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals via the MECA Foundation to Raise Awareness for Needed Police K-9’s.

  Greenfield, WI - May 28th, 2013 Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals (MECA) through their nonprofit foundation, MECA Wisconsin Police Canine Vest Foundation, Inc will partner with Fox Sports Network for the second year to help raise awareness  for the need of Wisconsin police k-9’s and the need to protect every police dog in the state of Wisconsin with bullet resistant and stab proof vests.


In wake of the recent Boston Marathon bombings, the need for k-9 officers has increased dramatically. Just recently CNN featured a story on a new program out of Auburn University where “vapor wake dogs” are being trained to smell the vapor of explosives and to find those explosives before bombs are even placed.  These “vapor wake dogs” can sniff the vapor of explosives inside a backpack on a person moving through a crowd.

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 “Police K-9’s provide an extraordinary service to the community,” said Captain Jose Hernandez of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. They help to apprehend suspects, locate evidence, and assist in locating missing persons. Our K-9’s sweep airports daily to keep people safe while traveling. They continuously patrol country thoroughfares, freeway systems, parks and lakefronts and are also used in correctional settings to set the tone for a disciplined environment.” added Captain Hernandez

“Every day a Police Officer's life is spared because of their k-9 partner enabling them to work in much safer and efficient conditions. They are the first to be stabbed, shot and struck in the line of duty. They have no guns,” states Dr. Lichtenberger, founder of MECA Wisconsin Police Canine Vest Foundation (The MECA Foundation).  “We need to protect these K-9’s with bullet resistant and stab proof vests as they risk their lives to save ours,” Dr. Lichtenberger added. 

Find out what's happening in Greenfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Todd Skarban, of Oconto County Sheriff's Department and President of The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler Association, the overall existence of having a K-9 unit as part of the department is a crime deterrent.  “I applaud the MECA Foundation for what they are doing to assist other agencies.  Many k-9 units are not funded by the department and are funded solely by donations. Just one K-9 has substantial impact on community safety,” noted Todd Skarban.

“The K-9 protective vests cost approximately $850.00 while a single K-9 costs anywhere from $14,000 to over $20,000,” said Dr. Lichtenberger. We were very excited last year when we raised enough support to help purchase the new Greenfield K-9 and the new Greendale K-9 in addition to vesting other k-9 officers,” she added.

The 2nd Annual MECA VEST A K-9 FEST is Saturday, July 20thfrom 10am until 3pm at The Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals. Families are encouraged to attend to meet and greet these K-9 officers who protect their communities, watch police demonstrations and have fun while learning about these everyday heroes. Support from various professional athletes including Major League Baseball player Martin Maldonado will be in attendance to show their support for such an important mission. The event will also include live entertainment from Wisconsin Eight time WAMI award winner Ronnie Nyles.

If you would like to support the event or to join the MECA Foundation’s mission to help keep our communities safe, you can log on to mecavestak9policedogwi.org or call 414-543-7387. 

The MECA Wisconsin Police Canine Vest Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization focusing on vesting every Wisconsin police dog with a bullet resistant and stab proof vest.  In addition, the foundation assists Wisconsin Police K-9 Units with purchasing police dogs.  ###

For more information or to schedule an interview with Dr. Lichtenberger, DVM DACVECC founder of The MECA Foundation, contact Debra Lopez Public Relations at 262-989-0604 or email dlopez7@sbcglobal.net  

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