West Hartford PD's K9 Team Seeks Public Votes For Major Grant Funds

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Residents are being asked to support a local police K9 team competing for a community grant that would fund equipment, training, and veterinary care.

K-9 Islay and Sgt. Andrew Teeter of the West Hartford Police Department are finalists for the Hometown Foundation Hometown Heroes Grant.

Islay, a dual-purpose patrol and narcotics detection dog, has worked alongside Teeter for seven years.

The K9 team has helped locate missing children and people in crisis, track criminal suspects, recover firearms and narcotics, and assist in resolving dangerous situations, according to officials.

Their work previously earned recognition from the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association, which awarded the team a Medal of Bravery.

If selected, the grant funding would help replace aging equipment and cover training tools, odor detection supplies, veterinary care, and other costs associated with maintaining K9 readiness.

Voting is open to the public through the Hometown Foundation website.

Participants must create a free account or sign in to cast a vote for K9 Islay.

Free votes are available after registering, and additional votes may be submitted as donations. Winners are determined by total votes received.

West Hartford’s K9 unit responds to more than 200 deployments each year and regularly assists neighboring agencies, officials said.

For more information and to vote for the WHPD's K-9 team, click on this link.