The Oregon State Police is asking young Oregonians to help name its newest conservation K-9, a one-year-old red Labrador Retriever currently training to join the agency’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation K-9 program.
The new recruit will work alongside K-9 Scout and K-9 Drake, helping troopers protect Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources. Before beginning his duties, however, the dog needs an official name.
OSP has launched a naming contest open to Oregon youth ages 9 to 17. Suggested names must be related to wildlife, fish, or the outdoors, reflecting the K-9’s role within the agency’s Fish and Wildlife Division.
Contest entries will be accepted through June 14. Participants may submit one entry using OSP’s online form (https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=6zhnd5tPT0S8M03U6OGptZQT3jIyM4lKkkQFSrNncbhUNk9HSjg4MURMVEJWQjlIMThVRUFRUEFOUC4u&route=shorturl). Finalists will be selected from the submissions and advanced to a statewide public vote.
The youth who submits the winning name will have an opportunity to meet the new K-9 and receive recognition from Oregon State Police.
The conservation K-9 program began in 2018 with K-9 Buck, who recently retired from active service. The specially trained dogs assist investigators by detecting wildlife and fish species, tracking people, and conducting area searches.
Conservation K-9s are trained to locate evidence related to wildlife crimes, including deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl, salmon, and sturgeon. They can also detect firearms, shell casings, and other items containing gunpowder residue. The teams have assisted in investigations involving poaching, missing persons, and other criminal cases across Oregon.
The new K-9 and his trooper partner will be based out of OSP’s patrol office in La Grande, joining existing conservation K-9 teams stationed in Bend and Springfield.
The program operates through a partnership between Oregon State Police and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation. Donations to the foundation’s Wildlife Conservation K-9 Fund help cover veterinary care, training equipment, and other expenses associated with the conservation dogs.
Reach Publisher Teresa Pearson at [email protected].