Monday, March 4, police officers and their canine companions competed against one another to show off their skills and have the fastest speed while chasing down targets.
K9s4Cops Founder Kristi Schiller started the organization after watching the news one evening; she saw a police officer who’s canine partner had recently died and was not going to receive another. She decided to take action and created K9s4Cops. The organization brings in highly talented dogs from Europe to be trained, and later given to police officers.
K9s4Cops has supplied almost all police units with dogs in Harris and surrounding counties, 41 states, and France. Dogs from K9s4Cops have helped seize more than $350 million in contraband. Schiller is a proud seventh generation Texan, and very proud to bring in her dogs to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeoâ„¢.
Among the competitors was Abigail Arias, daughter of Freeport Chief of Police Raymond Garivey. The 6-year-old is battling terminal cancer, and lit up the room as she and her rhinestone-clad counterpart Quelle raced through the arena. Abigail, strong and steady, led Quelle to victory as they raced in a tie-breaker competition. Abigail and Quelle won first place, and paraded their trophy around the arena.
