12-Year-Old Boy Helps Buy 2 New K9s For Police Department
RIFLE, Colo. (CBS4) - The Rifle Police Department is welcoming two puppies into its drug-sniffing K9 unit -- and they have a 12-year-old boy to thank.
Carter Faulk, 12, wanted to help after he heard the department's current drug-sniffing dog, Tulo, would soon retire.
Faulk set up a GoFundMe page to help the department and raised $1,540 to purchase "Jax" and "Makai."
"Carter had the opportunity to interview Rifle Police Department Officer's Duncan and Sgt. K. Wilson about the departments K9 program. Carter was greatly inspired by these great men," Faulk's mother wrote on the GoFundMe site. "During the interview, Carter learned that Tulo, the current and only K9 officer for the Rifle Police Department, is nearing his retirement. Carter immediately decided that he wanted to help with the purchase of new K9s for the department."
The Rifle Police Department named Faulk an honorary canine officer, giving him a plaque for his achievement.
Police say the two puppies will spend time learning from the older dog and could be out in the field by this time next year.
However, unlike Tulo, Jax and Makai will be trained to ignore the scent of marijuana.
Back in July, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that police can't search a vehicle based solely on a signal from a drug-sniffing dog because they've been trained to smell marijuana, which is legal in Colorado.
Funds are still needed to pay for vet costs; if you'd like to help, you can go to www.gofundme.com/k9-for-rifle-police-department
