Zorro, Fortuna’s Police Dog, is looking for a replacement take over his duties.  Fortuna Police Employee’s Foundation is trying to raise money to buy a new dog and train an officer to work with the new member of the team.

Fortuna Police Employee’s Foundation Press Release:

Did you know that the Fortuna Police Department K9 Unit is run solely on donations from the community?  Due to major budget cuts in July of 2012 the K9 Unit at the Fortuna Police department has been a donation based program.   Police dogs have an average of seven to nine years of service before they are retired.  The Fortuna Police Department’s K9, Zorro will be retiring in the summer of 2014 after eight years on patrol. We are hopeful to continue our K-9 program and start a new dog to take Zorro’s place when he retires. The start-up costs are much greater than that of our yearly costs to maintain the program. The Cost for a new K9 and the training for the Officer and the K9 will amount to approximately $11,500.00.  

This year, the Fortuna Police Employees’ Foundation is starting a “Community K-9” fundraiser. “Since this will be the first dog to start while being solely a donation based program, we thought it would be fitting to name is such’ said Current K-9 Officer and Foundation Secretary Jason Kadle.   To assist with the fundraising the Fortuna Police Employees’ Foundation is selling firewood. We are selling Madrone Firewood for $350.00 a cord. If interested please call 707-496-1286.    If you don’t need firewood and wish to help with the “Community K9” fundraiser, you can donate to the Fortuna Police Employee’s Foundation by making checks out to the Fortuna Police Employees’ Foundation, and sending them to Fortuna Police Employees’ Foundation P.O. Box 795 Fortuna, CA 95540 (Please write K9 on the check).  Donations can also be made online at https://www.givlet.org/donate/sKjP/    Donors will be provided a receipt for tax purposes.

About the Foundation  The Fortuna Police Employees’ Foundation is a non-profit organization operated by members of the Fortuna Police Employees’ Association which is comprised of sworn and non-sworn members of the Fortuna Police Department.  The foundation was formed to provide support to various community events and programs.