About the Campaign
K9 Sonny is a 3-year-old German Shepard, who is certified in Patrol, Narcotics, and Apprehension work. K9 Sonny is assigned to Deputy Andre Rongitsch. K9 Sonny became a member of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office in August of 2019 and has completed over a thousand hours of training. K9 Sonny has had 3 contact apprehensions and numerous non-contact apprehensions. He has also had many finds such as narcotics or evidence recovery. K9 Sonny likes to play with his retired older brother K9 Vito, he loves naps in the dirt, playing at the park, chewing on his Kong, and his ultimate favorite is training days. He has a strong dislike for any type of bug that buzzes near him and thunderstorms.
Here’s how this equipment both helps Sonny and Deputy Rongitsch on the job:
A multi-threat vest protects against standard-issue caliber rounds for common guns and offers additional protection for stabbing weapons, like prison shanks or other blunt force puncture objects. The vest is inserted into a carrier made of a rip-stop material that helps to deflect punctures as well. This vest provides the same level of protection that the human counterparts of these K9s are required to wear for their job.
The Ranger K9 Trauma Kit provides sterile, veterinary grade, K9-specific supplies to assist an officer in providing aid to their K9 in the event of an on-the-job incident or injury. This kit includes a canine oxygen mask, along with other first aid items, a quick reference sheet for K9 vitals and dosing, and comes in a heavy-duty, canvas bag that is embroidered with emblems ensuring that it is easily identifiable for K9 use.
NOTE: The funds collected as part of this fundraiser will be allocated to the agency’s Equipment Grant Application with Hero K9 for their K9. Should the application status change and/or if donations received are in excess of the goal amount, donations will be directed to the organization’s general fund to provide additional equipment grants and cover operational costs and/or other business-related expenses.