LCSO K9 Blady repeats as Top Dog at Regional K9 Challenge

11/04/2024 05:51 AM

LCSO K9 Kai wearing his tactical vest donated by the Battle Born Offroaders.

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

For the second straight year, Lyon County Sheriff’s K9 Blady and his handler Sgt. Matt Galvin took the Top Dog award in the 3rd Annual Regional K9 Unit Challenge Oct. 19 in Carson City.

Nearly 40 K9 teams from 13 agencies competed in four events centered around the primary duties they perform in the field.

In addition to K9 Blady winning Top Dog, K9 Kai and his handler Deputy Soukup took first place in agility.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has five dogs in its K9 unit. They have been fitted with tactical vests provided by donations.

Battle Born Offroaders has outfitted several law enforcement K9s including two from LCSO, and are raising funds to outfit others. Vests are form-fitted for each dog and are stab-proof and bulletproof up to 44 magnum.

Denise Whetzel of Battle Born Offroaders said they raised more than $7,000 from their Go Topless Day Extreme event, and they also raise money through donations and raffles. In June they held a barbecue fundraiser.

Battle Born Offroaders started with seven members in 2019 and is now the largest off-road group in Northern Nevada with more than 2,500 members. They became a 501c3 nonprofit in March.

Glenn and Denise Whetzel of Battle Born Offroaders and members of the Fernley American Legion Post pose with LCSO K9 Linda and her handler Deputy McCullough

“We just wanted to have a group of people to have fun, responsible off-roading,” Whetzel said.

Then they heard that LCSO and other agencies were in need of donations to outfit their K9 units with protective vests, and swing into action. Since then, they have outfitted 11 dogs, including two from LCSO, Storey County, Douglas County, the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol and one from the Yerington Police Department,

"The Lyon County Sheriff's Office has been very fortunate to receive donations from Battleborn OffRoaders in the form of protective vests for our K9 partners,” said LCSO chief deputy Mitch Brantingham. “These life-saving vests allow our K9 handlers to deploy their partners with confidence in some of the most dangerous situations they encounter. Our K9 unit would not be what it is today without these types of donations and support."