HomeMy WebLinkAboutK-9 Retirement Fund Press Release
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Hannah Watkins, Communications Intern
Phone 952-833-9519 • hwatkins@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Program Is Under Way to Help Handlers with K-9 Retirement
Edina, Minn., Nov. 20, 2014 – After Edina Police Department K-9s have served their time and entered
retirement, their handlers will now receive monetary help to cover the costs of caring for the K-9s.
Marlene Joan Grassl made a generous donation of $20,000 to the Edina Crime Prevention Fund in order to
start a program that will compensate K-9 handlers providing care to K-9s that have retired from active
service with the Edina Police Department.
“Dogs have always been my love and not enough is done for the retired K-9s or the people who have to take
care of all of the canine’s expenses,” Grassl said. “I hope this will be the beginning of others who want to
donate to the cause and help the K-9’s and their caretakers.”
Handlers can be compensated for up to $2,000 annually for expenses like food, veterinary services, grooming
and temporary kenneling services.
Edina Crime Prevention Fund Treasurer Denny Maetzold thinks this program will be beneficial to handlers
who until this point had taken full responsibility of caring for the dogs. “There are a lot of expenses that go
into caring properly for the K-9s and that can really add up,” said Maetzold.
Anyone can donate to the K-9 Retirement Fund. Edina Police Department Sgt. Kevin Rofidal said, “There is
no better way to for members of the community to show appreciation than to donate to the K9 program.
Over the years, I have been pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming and unwavering support the Edina
community has afforded the K9 program – it speaks volumes.”
The Edina Police Department currently has two K-9s on duty -- Diesel and Blade. Although Blade has many
years ahead of him before retirement, Diesel will retire at the end of the year.
Edina Police Department K-9 Officer Mike Seeger is grateful for the support of the K-9 Retirement Fund as
he prepares for Diesel’s retirement. “It seems like all of the medical expenses and other major expenses
come up after retirement, so this program is really going to help when Diesel goes into retirement,” he said.
Anyone can donate to the new K-9 Retirement Fund. If you would like to donate, please send a check payable
to the Edina Crime Prevention Fund to Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424. Please write “K-9
Retirement Fund” in the check’s memo line.
For more information on the K-9 Retirement Fund, call the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610.
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