The Wisconsin Legislature, as of 2015, has proclaimed March 13 as K-9 Veterans Day across the state.
Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump announced recently that the city’s police department recognizes the event, further noting that the statewide observance will be held in Fort Atkinson this year on Sunday, March 10.
The statewide event is sponsored annually in Fort Atkinson by the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson, according to information recently released by the club.
Within his release, Bump noted that the K-9 Veterans Day recognition will be held at the American Legion Banquet Center, 201 S. Water St., at 1:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
Jerry Witt, U.S. Army Sergeant and scout dog handler, is this year’s keynote speaker.
According to the release, Witt served in Vietnam in the late 1960s along with his scout dog.
The team led patrols of infantry through jungles ahead of main troops. One of his dogs made the ultimate sacrifice when he alerted on a booby trap from which he was unable to escape, the release stated.
Prior to the event at the American Legion, a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the K-9 Veterans Memorial in Fort Atkinson’s McCoy Park at 12:30 p.m.
Bump, within the release, wrote that on K-9 Veterans Day “K-9 breeders and handlers honor the service of their furry companions. K-9s serve vital roles in the military and law enforcement and the Fort Atkinson Police Department is proud to have a K-9 program that serves the community.”
The city’s K-9 unit was established in 2015, when the department received a donated K-9 officer. The unit is fully supported by donations and fundraisers, and does not use taxpayer dollars, the release stated.
Funding for Fort’s K-9 unit was established through monies previously held by the city, along with a donation made to the program in the summer of 2023, at which time, the release noted, the department was able to “start the K-9 unit back up.”
The fund is maintained through the sale of t-shirts bearing Smitty’s likeness and a plush toy replica of Smitty, and donations can be made at local businesses where coin collection cans are located, Smitty’s handler Officer Adam Lawrence noted in the release. He added that funds earmarked for the city’s K-9 unit are used to purchase supplies.
A fund also is maintained through the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, the release read.
Bump noted that the city of Fort Atkinson has had three K-9 officers since its inception.
K-9 officers that served in Fort Atkinson as Smitty’s predecessors include “Dino” and “Bolt.”
“Police canines are a valuable tool for communities and I am honored to be partnered with K-9 Smitty,” Lawrence was quoted as saying in the release.
According to the release, Smitty, a purebred Belgian Malinois, was less than 2 years old when he joined the Fort Atkinson Police Department last summer.
Smitty is a dual purpose K-9, meaning that he is trained in narcotics detection, handler protection, criminal apprehension, and tracking and evidence recovery, the release noted.
Smitty enjoys meeting new people at community events, and, according to his handler, he is “always happy to be around people and a tennis ball is his favorite toy.”
As stated in the release, K-9 officers are embedded in homeland security, customs, F.B.I., Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and police department units, and can be found serving in such places as airports.
K-9 Veterans Day additionally recognizes service dogs that help people with disabilities and support animals for those with mental health issues. Service dogs often risk their health and lives to accomplish their missions, the release concluded.
An earlier story about Smitty’s arrival in Fort Atkinson is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-k-9-takes-oath-of-office-dog-and-handler-to-begin-patrols-in-august/.
A story about this year’s K-9 Veterans Day observance is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/vietnam-veteran-k-9-handler-jerry-witt-to-speak-at-10th-annual-k-9-veterans-day-observance/.
Fort Atkinson Police Department K-9 Officer “Smitty” and his handler Officer Adam Lawrence. Contributed photo.
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Chief Bump, Officer Lawrence and K9 Smitty, YOU ROCK!!!! See you Sunday.