Hundreds Ride From Dennis to Provincetown for K-9 Relief Fund

SOUTH DENNIS – The Cape and Islands Police K9 Relief Fund annual fundraising motorcycle ride attracted just over 400 riders Saturday.

It was a near-perfect weather day with sunshine and mild temperatures for the ride from Dennis to Provincetown.

The proceeds from the event, now in its 7^th year, go to a fund that helps to pay for the vet bills for retired police dogs.

The motorcade left from Patriot Square and traveled to MacMillan Pier where riders were greeted with hot dogs, hamburgers and other refreshments.

The relief fund started nine years ago and any police dog on the Cape and Islands is eligible.

Organizer Joe Ambrosini said the burden of retired police dogs can be tough on the handlers.

“When the dogs retire, the burden is on the officer. The dogs live another five years and I think it’s a great thing because the dogs can become dogs again,” said Ambrosini.

“We have had bills over $4,000 or $5,000 and that’s his partner and he worked with him, trained with him and lived with him and you just don’t let him go,” said Ambrosini. “You kind of let him retire like a regular dog.”

Ambrosini said these dogs work for the county and the whole Cape and deserve to be taken care of.

“They save lives. They find drugs. They catch bad guys. They find articles. They find Alzheimer’s patients,” he said. “It’s kind of a thing that people have an opportunity to give back to the officers and their dogs.”