MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO-AM) - The Clay County Commission will be asked next week to approve funding for a canine program for the sheriff's department.
Sheriff Bill Bergquist says he needs about $6,000 each year to maintain the program, but he says the cost of acquiring and training the dog will be covered by donations.
The cost of a fully-trained police dog is about $25,000. Bergquist says the sheriff's department currently has about $33,000 in its canine donation fund. If the funding is approved, Bergquist says it'll take several months to acquire and train the dog for police work.
Bergquist also says he plans to make the dog available to other area law enforcement agencies as needed.
The sheriff's department hasn't had a canine program since 2012.