When an elderly man walked away from a local nursing home two years ago, it took a police dog  only a short time to find him.

“He had wandered into thick brush in Robison Park,” said Sgt. C.B. Abel. “The dog found him within an hour of being reported lost. We can do a search like that with a dog in a quarter of the time it would take officers on foot.”

But as the dogs retire, the cost to replace them is high. That’s why Tasha Irvin of the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce is helping organize a fundraiser for the Muskogee Police K-9 units. She is in awe of the police dogs.

“It’s a miracle what the dogs can do,” Irvin said.

Applebee’s Restaurant, 415 W. Shawnee Bypass, is hosting the fundraiser from 7 to 10 a.m. Sept. 11. Tickets are $7 per person and are available from the Chamber of Commerce, 310 W. Broadway.

Abel said a new dog costs $10,000 to $14,000.

“One hundred percent of the money we raise on September 11th will go for a purchase of a canine as our canines retire,” Abel said. “We have two dogs we will probably retire within the next year, Rudy, who’s 11, and Jocko, who’s 10 1/2. To replace all five of our current dogs as they retire will cost $50,000 to $60,000.”

The police department has five dogs: one German shepherd, one Dutch shepherd, and three Belgian Malinois.

“Each dog is assigned to one patrol officer, and that officer is the only one who works with that dog,” Abel said. “They keep the dogs with them all the time and have a kennel at their residences.”

Lt. Andy Simmons commands the K-9 unit. He says the dogs have apprehended a lot of suspects during burglaries and armed robberies, while crimes are in progress.

“Without the dogs they would not have been apprehended,” Simmons said. “They can do an ‘article search’ for things suspects might throw away when they run from the scene of a crime — a gun, a bag of money, drugs, burglary tools — anything with human odor on it.”

Irvin said volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce and K-9 unit will serve as waiters and hosts at the fundraiser.

John Miller, Applebee’s manager, and several of his employees will volunteer their time to cook the pancakes and sausages and brew the coffee.

Applebee’s also provides the venue for the fundraiser at no charge.

Abel said some of the dogs will be present at the fundraiser and demonstrate narcotics work.

“We will put somebody in a bite suit and have the dogs demonstrate a suspect apprehension,” Abel said.

The K-9 unit will perform drug sweeps at schools and businesses on request, Abel said. A school principal or business owner can schedule one by calling Officer Pedro Zardeneta: 683-8000.

Reach Kirk Kramer at 684-2901 or kkramer @muskogeephoenix.com.

If you go



WHAT: Flapjack fundraiser breakfast to buy a new dog for Muskogee Police Department K-9 unit.

WHEN: 7-10 a.m. Sept. 11.

WHERE: Applebee’s Restaurant, 415 W. Shawnee Bypass.

COST: $7 per ticket, good for one serving of three pancakes, two sausages and a drink. Buy tickets at Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce, 310 W. Broadway.

INFORMATION: 682-2401.