Girls Raise Cash To Supply Police Dog

A dog receiving attention from two little girls is a common event.

What’s not so common is when the dog is a future police canine, the girls raised money for his supplies — and their interactions were inside a busy supermarket flanked by high ranking public officials.

This was the scene at the Seymour Stop & Shop on Tuesday morning, as Amanda Estwan and Dayna Sheppard, both 12, submitted a $225 donation to the K‑9 Unit of the Seymour Police Department. They were joined by Officer Don Scheithe and his 17-month-old black German Shepherd, Seymour’s new K‑9 team.

Estwan and Sheppard went door-to-door in their neighborhood, accompanied by 17-year-old neighbor Jessica Martovich, collecting donations that will help purchase supplies for the new police dog, such as a $1,000 life-saving Kevlar vest.

The girls are not alone in their fundraising. 

The police department turned to the public to buy supplies for its new police dog because the department’s budget was stretched thin during the most recent funding cycle.

The department wants to raise $4,000 for the dog. As of Tuesday afternoon, they were just $900 short of that goal.

People’s United Bank has spearheaded the effort to raise the moeny, collecting donations at its Seymour branch. The bank will award each of the girls a $100 savings bond.

It will also match the donation dollar-for-dollar, in addition to the bank’s initial $1,000 donation. 

Diane D. Fraczek, the assistant vice president of the Seymour branch, has overseen the donations. 

“The customers have been very enthusiastic,” she said.

Fraczek, a 23-year employee of the bank, personally donated $25, which People’s United will match as well.

“It’s a feel-good thing,” Fraczek said, smiling as shoppers and the two young donors played with the dog in front of the bank’s counter.

So far, $3,100 has been collected. In addition to the donations from Estwan, Sheppard, and Martovich, the public has donated $1,600.

“The public has expressed great generosity,” said Brent DiGiorgio, director of external communications for People’s United Bank. 

The police department is also eliciting public support by holding a contest to name its new dog. 

Some submissions — there have been more than 1,000 suggestions — include Seymour, Blackie, Panther, Thunder, and Husky. 

The person behind the winning submission will receive a $100 savings bond and a large stuffed German Shepherd with a police hat. 

Scheithe will pick the winning name before he and his dog enter training in September.

But until his 16-week training begins, Scheithe is enjoying time with his new dog. 

“Right now we’re just bonding, playing, throwing a ball,” the patrolman said.

He described his canine partner as athletic and social. Both traits were on display in the supermarket, as the dog interacted with shoppers and even put his paws up on the bank’s counter.

Once the dog and handler have been through training, they will replace Seymour’s current canine unit.

“The dog is a positive thing. The right dog with the right handler is a home run,” said police Chief Michael Metzler, who was on hand Tuesday along with First Selectman Paul Roy.

People’s United Bank will continue accepting donations at its branch in the Seymour Stop & Shop. 

There will be two more meet-and-greets with Officer Scheithe and his dog, the first being this Saturday, July 24, from 11:00 a.m. to noon. 

The second will be held two weeks later, on Saturday, Aug. 7, at the same time.