Forseveral years,Treats Dog Company Monte Kielty and the Lassen County Sheriff’sOffice (LCSO) have been working together to bring a dog back to the force.

To continue those efforts, Treats Dog Company will be holding a dog wash fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 29 at its store located in the Sierra Shopping Center.

Kielty said customers can bring their dogs in to wash and dry — Treats will provide the shampoo, towels and blow dryer — for the normal cost of $16.

“And at the end of the day we will tally it up and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the Lassen County K9 Association,” Kielty said.

Sheriff deputies have also volunteered to wash cars in the parking lot.

“So we’ll have a dual purpose fundraiser. People can come in with their dirty dog and dirty car and they get to leave with a clean dog and a clean car,” Kielty said.

There will be door prizes, including the opportunity to win a free pet food and other goodies.

According to Kielty, $13,000 is needed to get a dog, outfit the vehicle and pay for officer training. To date, Treats Dog Company has helped raise about $5,000 to $6,000.

Theplan is to have the money for a K9 program by the end of the year.

In addition to helping raise funds, Treats has committed to cover non-police related costs.

“Once we can get a dog for the county, Treats Dog Company will take care of its material needs, whether it be food, if it needs a bed, if it needs chew toys, it doesn’t matter what it needs, we’ll take care of the material needs for the dog aside from police-specific items like a bullet- proof vest,” Kielty said.

Kielty has been working with the LCSO several years ago when he became aware Lassen County did not have a police dog.

“And it doesn’t seem right to me. So, I started working toward it with the ultimate goal of forming the charitable not-for-profit organization to help raise funds to get a K-9 officer in Lassen County,” he said.

He was unable to get the non-profit going due to time constraints but deputy Brandon Vinson, whoKielty said was excited about the K9 idea, took over and formed the association.

According to Kielty, Lassen County Sheriff Dean Growdon has also gotten behind the project.

He said, “So really it’sbeen a strong effort between (deputy) Vinson and Sheriff Growdon, and they’ve really filled in where I just haven’t had a chance.”

Kielty also talked about the outreach a K-9 officer can do.

“Everybody remembers the first time the sheriff’s office or the local police department brought in their K-9 officer to the class. I remember it. It’s such a neat outreach for youngsters,” Kielty said.

Once the program is up and running in Lassen County, Kielty said the hope is tohelp Plumas County, where he and his wife have a store in Chester, start a K-9 program.