Chester County Sheriff’s Office Puts the Fun in Fundraiser for K-9 Unit

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Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh, center.

For the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, “game on” conveys a message that extends beyond the phrase’s familiar use: It marks the annual culmination of a crowd-pleasing fundraiser that transforms the likes of llama, moose, and deer into haute cuisine.

Last Saturday, more than 300 people gathered at the former Westside Entertainment Center in West Chester, now owned by Providence Church, for the sold-out event.

The event supports the K-9 Unit of the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Lt. Harry McKinney said the $16,500 netted from the 2016 event paid for the acquisition and training of another narcotics dog.

“The bills haven’t been paid yet, but I expect this year to surpass last year,” he said.

The K-9 Unit, which now has 10 dogs, responds to several calls each week, according to Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh. The most frequent involve searches by teams trained to detect narcotics or explosives. However, Melody, the office’s comfort dog, is equally in demand for defusing stress, particularly in cases involving children.

In addition to the food, the event featured a variety of games of chance, silent auctions, and opportunities to win prizes running the gamut from hunting accoutrements to baskets of dog treats. This year marked the debut of K-9 wine, an ongoing initiative through a partnership with Weston Wineries in Wyoming.

David B. Terry, the company’s East Coast retail coordinator, attended the event with samples of both red and white wines that feature the Chester County Sheriff’s top dogs on the labels. The company will donate 10 percent of sales to the K-9 program.

To purchase the wine, visit https://www.kninewines.com/.

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