Some of the Binghamton Police Department's furriest officers are getting some new support. Tuesday, city officials announced a new endowment fund for the department's K-9 Unit. Our Melissa Kakareka has more.

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The city's current budget includes around $5,800 for the police department’s K-9 Unit. But that's not enough money for the unit to run as well as it should. In fact, officers of the K-9 Unit sometimes have to pay out of pocket for additional costs associated with their dogs.

That's why the city is drawing attention to a new fund created last year to help pay for the dogs. Money donated from the public will go toward the cost of dog food, medication and veterinary bills. It will also pay for the purchase and training of new service dogs, which the police department needs.

Police say these dogs are valuable asset to the department, whether they are sniffing for drugs or evidence or intimidating a person who would normally fight a police officer.

“We do see a lot of respect for the police dogs. As you are aware of, we have large crowds and we do have disturbances on the weekend and a police dog can help us clear up to a thousand or more people without incident. We very rarely have someone challenge one of our police dogs,” Binghamton Police Captain Chrisopher Bracco said.

The public can make a donation the fund online or through the mail at:

Community Foundation for South Central New York
520 Columbia Drive, Suite 100
Johnson City, New York 13790
*Write “Binghamton Police K-9 Fund” in the memo line