43
Funds raised for Boardman’s new police dog
Photo
A group of Boardman Township trustees arrived to show their support for the Boardman police and draw the first raffle ticket. Pictured, from left, are (front) Officer Brian Cionni, K-9 Robby; (back) township trustees Larry Moliterno, Thomas Costello and Brad Calhoun.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Jordan Velez held up the balloon animal he received for visiting with the Boardman Police’s K-9 unit booth at the mall.
Photo
K-9 Unit officer Brian Cionni posed with photos and articles displaying eight years of faithful service from his police dog, Robby.
Photo
The Boardman police’s other faithful K-9, Yuma, takes a friendly sniff at Dominic Spencer.
By SARAH FOOR
Visitors to the Southern Park Mall on Saturday had a chance to give to a howling good cause, as the Boardman Police K-9 unit held its fundraiser for a new police dog.
The event lasted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and included face painting, balloon animals, a raffle and a meet-and-greet with police dogs Yuma and Robby.
All of the money raised is going toward purchasing and training a new police dog, in place of the retiring police dog Robby.
“Robby has given eight great years to the force, and has had the honor to protect President Obama in Lordstown, among many other accomplishments,” said K-9 Officer and Robby’s owner, Brian Cionni.
“But at his age, he deserves to spend the rest of his life just being a dog.”
About half of the $10,000 needed to buy and train a new police dog has been raised. When they meet their goal, Cionni will attend a training school that will match a dog with the needs of the Boardman community.
Cionni said he will look for serious crime-fighting skills and sociability that will allow the new K-9 to be friendly with children and community members.
To help the Boardman police reach their goal, call 330-726-4144 for donation information.