![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/20181124_175307.jpg?resize=900%2C746&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
(Pictured left to right-Yngodess Shop owner Christine Crocker, Deputy Chris Erion, K-9 handler and Valeria Antonetti, Assistant at Yngoddess Shop)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Genesee K-9 Fund had a $10,000 goal after K-9 Destro passed away last month due to cancer.<\/p>\n
That goal has been met.<\/p>\n
A new K-9 has been selected and is currently living with Deputy Chris Erion and his family.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been testing his abilities over the course of the last week and a half, he’s been at my house, I’ve taken him to Canada and different buildings, schools and all sorts of different places just to test how he works in different environments and he has done very well,” says Erion.<\/p>\n
The two-year old Belgian Malinois was imported from Holland and was purchased through Upstate K-9.<\/p>\n
The cost of the dog was $7,500, the cost to import and other fees was $1,000, and training, which will cost $5,000.<\/p>\n
“He was assessed by the trainer in Canada and he certainly is intelligent, no observable phobias, so I think he will work out well. He’s good, like he has been here his whole life, that’s one of the things you look for, that resiliency, he has adjusted fine.\u00a0 He is a very different dog personality wise, drive wise, he has a high desire to work like any police dog.”<\/p>\n
Erion says the dog has been selected and after they finalize the contract and payment, the County will own its next K-9.<\/p>\n
At this time a name has not been chosen.<\/p>\n
“I have a couple of names in my head, the name will be meaningful.”<\/p>\n
Donations have been incredible according to Erion.<\/p>\n
So much so that the extra funds raised will go towards a second K-9 that will be trained in explosives detection. A second handler has been selected, but has not been named yet.<\/p>\n
Training for Destro’s replacement will begin in March of 2019 in Canada and will last about three months.<\/p>\n
“Before the beginning of summer we should have a fully working K-9.”<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/20181124_173309-e1543186941785-225x300.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/20181124_205144.jpg?resize=300%2C214&ssl=1\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/20181124_172533-e1543187010623-225x300.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Last week, Yngodess Shop owner Christine Crocker put out a fundraising cup for the K-9 fund.<\/p>\n
On Saturday night she invited Deputy Erion to her shop to meet customers and talk to the community about the importance of a K-9. She also auctioned of several gift baskets.<\/p>\n
Crocker says the fundraising cup will remain up at her store to raise more funds for feeding, veterinarian care and equipment needed.<\/p>\n
Five years ago, Crocker says K-9 Pharaoh assisted in locating her step father who was suffering from Alzheimer’s and had escaped the house during a heavy fog on 27 wooded acres in the country.<\/p>\n
“That’s why I feel a K-9 is important to the community,” says Crocker.<\/p>\n
“How passionate Deputy Erion is about his dog and to hear his story, its important, he has a special bond with the dog, that’s their job.”<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/DESTRO-card.jpg?resize=900%2C664&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Deputy Erion says he has been blown away by the generosity of the community and how people have responded to everything that has happened since Destro died unexpectedly in October.<\/p>\n
“From the little kids who have been holding on to his picture for 3-4 years , it’s all crumpled up and in their pocket and they show it to me and just people coming up to me on the street and letting me know they are thinking of me,” says Erion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(Pictured left to right-Yngodess Shop owner Christine Crocker, Deputy Chris Erion, K-9 handler and Valeria Antonetti, Assistant at Yngoddess Shop) The Genesee K-9 Fund had a $10,000 goal after K-9 Destro passed away last month due to cancer. That goal has been met. A new K-9 has been selected \u2026<\/p>\n