Running, jumping and sniffing, is exactly what dogs do when they train to be K-9 officers, but where they do it is about to change for some animals.
The City of Lorain is giving the training facility a facelift.
The Lorain Police Department hasn’t seen an upgrade like this in 25 years, and 6.5–year-old Skoty is already getting familiar with it.
“A lot of these things, are things that they’ll do on the road,” said his partner and handler Officer Jesse Perkins, with the Lorain Police Department.
Over the years, the equipment has gotten old and worn down, so officer Perkins and Skoty would have to come all the way to Cleveland, just to keep the German Shepherd in shape. Because of the distance, he was not getting nearly as much practice as he needed.
That’s when the Lorain Police Department decided to do something about it, giving all four dogs in their department new training material, right in their own backyard.
Officer Perkins said being able to train will keep his partner out on the streets, for longer.
“It’s actually going to prolong his life on the road, it’s exercise for them, but it’s also training at the same time,” he said.
The facility also has a kennel for the handlers to use if they are out of town. Lorain officers hope they can pay it forward, allowing other municipalities to come and train on their new equipment when needed.
