Hounds for Heroes
Saturday, Jan. 5, is a day that will literally go to the dogs.
That is when the second annual Hounds for Heroes event will take place at Island Coast High School from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It is also where the best police dogs in the area, and from around the state, will compete for top honors at the Florida Gulf Coast Police K-9 Competition.
Cape Coral Police Dept. K-9 Officer Stephen Scrobe spoke at a Monday press conference about the event, which helped raise more than $14,000 for numerous charities last year, when it was held behind Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral.
“We switched the venue to accommodate the large increase in people we expect to come,” Scrobe said. “Last year we had way more people than we expected, so to make up for it, we changed venues. We expect 3,000 to 5,000 this year.”
Competitors from all over the state will visit to participate in the obstacle course, which puts man and dog in situations they would normally see on deployment, and a speed competition where the dog has to apprehend a suspect to see who’s the fastest and strongest.
For the first time, there will be a category for non-police dogs and civilians who train alongside the police dogs at canine clubs, where ordinary citizens can bring their dogs to see how they stack up the those who do it for a living.
“We’re up to the challenge and we think they will be very impressive when they come out. Local trainers will come out to show what they’ve done with their dogs,” Scrobe said.
Around 25 teams from 13 agencies competed last year, with as many as 30 teams from 14 agencies coming this year, Scrobe said.
Scrobe will compete along with the other Cape Coral K-9 units. Units from Collier and Lee and Pasco counties, as well as Fort Myers, Sarasota, Coral Gables, and Miami are expected to compete.
The event will go to support Holidays for Heroes, a local non-profit organization that donates care packages to soldiers deployed overseas during the holidays.
“Peter Gesek started the Hounds for Heroes program last year. Holidays for Heroes started a few years ago and has grown exponentially every year,” Scrobe said. “Peter started Hounds for Heroes and we had our event, so we pooled our resources under Hounds for Heroes.”
Hounds for Heroes will feature dozens of vendors, a bounce house for children and a food truck rally, with more than a dozen local charities also expected to attend. The CCPD will also be selling T-shirts again this year after selling out fast last year, with all sales going to charity.
The police department’s SWAT team will display its equipment, as will the city fire department, and the local K-9s, who will do a meet-and-greet with attendees.
Admission and parking is free, though Scrobe asks that everyone at least donate a dollar to one the charities on hand.
Those interested in helping out, whether it be a sponsor or vendor, can contact Scrobe at SScrobe@CapeCoral.net. Requests will be accepted up to the day of the event.