OnPoint K9 hosts a police competition and certification

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. – K-9 officers and their handlers from multiple states were in Scottsville today for training.

Locally, Scottsville and Allen County K-9s are training and competing to see which K-9 will be the area’s top dog.

This week, OnPoint K9 is hosting a police seminar, competition and certification in Allen County.

Most of the dogs in attendance are dual purpose dogs, meaning they track narcotics and apprehend suspects.

According to Jacob Costello, Allen County K-9 handler, his dog is extremely useful.

“It’s basically like having another tool on your belt. When I go anywhere, he’s in the vehicle with me and every time I go on shift, he’s in the car with me.  We’ve got a very tight bond, and I think he is very beneficial to the department, you know, him getting used. And he’s also beneficial to the SRT team that we are starting up here in Allen County, having that extra tool to send in the house takes a lot of the risk off the guys to send in,” said Costello

While K-9s are tools, they are also family to Scottsville police K-9 handler Trever Thompson.

“My dog means pretty much everything to me. He’s pretty much like another part of my family. You know, it’s my wife, my little girl and he lives with us full time. I have to feed him and water him every day, so he’s essentially another member of the family,” said Thomson.

These trainings, clearing houses, finding narcotics and tracking hidden people, all an exciting game to the pups.

In fact, working these kinds of dogs is actually good for them, and they enjoy it according to Jason Hanley owner of OnPoint k9.

“It’s like trying to deny an NFL player the game. It’s what these dogs were bread for. They’ve been doing it for a hundred years. So, depriving them of their work is depriving them of what they really live for,” said Hanley.

The training isn’t complete until the four-legged officer gets his reward, his favorite toy.

The OnPoint K9 police seminar, competition, and certification will continue throughout the rest of the week.