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Drako, Judge and Coda are officially on-duty with their Deputy handlers, after 14 weeks in the McDonough  K9 training program, in Blaine, and  getting used to riding in a squad car, being around people and doing just regular dog stuff.  

Handlers are Deputy Clayton, with Coda;  Deputy Johnson with Drako and Deputy Olson is with Judge.  Johnson was formerly partner with K9 Ghost, who succumbed to health problems relatively recently.

The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office utilized a variety of funding sources to develop this new team of K9s.  The AKC contributed $7,500, and there was an insurance payout upon the death of another K9 in a house fire in 2022.  The department and Chisago Lakes schools cooperatively offered a stuffed animal-making event at the community-fitness center as a fundraiser, and county American Recovery Program Act monies rounded out the expenses.  

The sheriff also has an independent  non-profit foundation, which by approval of the County Board, can accept private donations at any time.

The dogs are all the Belgian Malinois breed.  They are trained for tracking, apprehension and to alert to narcotics present.

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