CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Joe Ambrosini, founder of the Cape & Islands Police K-9 Relief Fund.
CAPE COD – The Cape & Islands Police K-9 Relief Fund is inviting the public to another Motorcycle Run this weekend.
Proceeds collected during the event will go directly to veterinary bills of retired K-9 Police Officers from Cape Cod.
Motorcycle Run organizer Joe Ambrosini says that when the dogs retire from the force the police departments no longer have financial responsibility for them.
“When the dogs retire they don’t pay for their dogs anymore, it’s up to the handler. The dogs live another five or six years. What we do as an organization is pay the vet bills. It’s a budgetary thing I’m sure. Everybody needs money for equipment, so the handler takes the dog and the burden is on him. So, we take care of them,” Ambrosini explained.
The proceeds from the event, as well as the rest of the Cape & Islands Police K-9 Relief Fund, goes directly to easing the burden of veterinary costs incurred in maintaining a retired K-9 officer.
Ambrosini says that the highly irregular and physical lifestyle K-9 Officers experience while on the job can lead to ailments further down the road.
“A working dog, his hours are either 4:00 a.m. to midnight or midnight to 8:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They’re working when all the other pets are sleeping, plus they train all day. They’re in a situation that’s not normal. They’re athletes,” said Ambrosini.
“They’re lean and mean and when they get older they have problems with their hips and are stressed out from working all the time. It doesn’t take them long to be a pet again, they adapt to the couch real quick.”
The Cape & Islands Police K-9 Fund Motorcycle Run kicks off on Saturday, September 29 at Patriot Square in South-Dennis, right off of Exit 9 of Route 134. Registration costs $20 per rider and $10 for passengers and takes place from 9:00 a.m. through 11:00 a.m.
“They don’t live like a regular dog and I just thought it was a great idea to the dogs, at least their time as a regular dog,” Ambrosini said.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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