Atascadero Police Department’s K-9s will receive a special holiday donation
K9 police dog ‘Pit’ with his handler, officer Christopher Hester.
–Today the Atascadero Police Department’s K-9 Unit will receive an unexpected holiday donation. The owners of two businesses in town, Glenn’s Repair and the Grocery Outlet, have arranged for a check presentation ceremony to take place in front of the Atascadero Police Department, located at 5505 El Camino Real.
Geoff and Kate Auslen, the owners of Glenn’s Repair, together with Pete Novak and Theresa Hughes who are the owners of Grocery Outlet of Atascadero, reached out to the Atascadero Police Department and graciously coordinated efforts to present the K-9s with a check for $5,000. Due to the cancellation of the Annual K-9 Wine & Dine Dinner this year, they wanted to find a way to continue support of the K-9s. The City of Atascadero and the Atascadero Police Department are extremely thankful for both Glenn’s Repair and Grocery Outlet for assisting the K-9 Program with this donation.
“It’s the least we can do during such a difficult time for our community and the money will assist a local program that will continue to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Auslen. Glenn’s Repair has been an active member of our community for over 52 years, with recent involvement as a part of Parents for Joy, a non-profit parent group under the United Cerebral Palsy of San Luis Obispo County, which recently opened the all-inclusive Joy Playground in Atascadero.
Pete Novak and Theresa Hughes have also been supporters of the community of Atascadero and equally share in helping to keep the community safe and investing in the K-9 program. Grocery Outlet has been a part of the community for the past eight years. Novak and Hughes bring extensive expertise in the industry to the city, with over 40 years in the grocery business.
The primary objective of the Atascadero Police Department K-9 Unit is to reduce hazard exposure to uniformed patrol officers as they carry out their public safety mission. The Atascadero K-9 Unit is overseen by Sergeant John Taylor and currently has two officer handlers, Corporal Chris Hester and Corporal Chris Hall, who serve together with their respective service dogs, Pit and Luke.
