For Mark Zeitler, a commitment to keep alive the memory of his father has produced the memory of a lifetime for himself.
For the past three years, the Zeitler family has organized the Memorial Bird Dog Field Trial Hunt in memory of Karl Zeitler, who passed away in 2010.
The proceeds from the 2013 event, $10,500, were donated to the Oconto County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit to buy a new dog.
Mark Zeitler, of Abrams, accompanied deputies Todd Skarban and Chad Angus to the Steinig Tal Kennel in Campbellsport when they chose the dog — 17-month-old Barron.
“It was an amazing experience to see the dogs in action,” Zeitler said.
Seeing what instructors teach the dogs and the amount of control they have was awesome and exciting, he added.
Zeitler said it was an easy decision to give this year’s profits to the Oconto County K-9 Unit when the family discovered Oconto County was in need of a new dog.
“Bird dogs and hunting were a big part of Dad’s life,” said Zeitler, who described his father as a humble man who always gave back to the community.
Angus’ previous dog, Neo, had to be retired due to age and back problems.
According to Skarban, police dogs are retired when they are about 9 years old. He said they still have the spirit, but their legs can’t support them to do the work.
Angus recently spent a week in training at the Campbellsport kennel with his new dog.
“He’s still very active,” Angus said of his new partner. He said Barron is intelligent and is adjusting well to his new role with the department. The German shepherd is certified as a dual tracking dog, meaning he can track for narcotics and perform police patrol work.
Police dogs are imported from Germany, and their commands are learned in German. The cost of a dog and a five-week training course, including certification, runs between $10,000 and $11,000. Maintaining a dog costs about $2,000 to $3,000 per year, which includes medical insurance.
Police dogs are very social, Skarban said, but when they get a command, their demeanor quickly changes and they get down to business. Skarban’s dog, Dexter, is a 7-year-old German Shepherd.
The dogs are trained to detect illegal drugs and do patrol work, which includes tracking, building searches, area searches, handler protection and suspect apprehension. The dog lives with the handler.
The county’s two K-9 units are on duty from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m., when there are the most calls for their services.
When a dog is retired, the dog is offered to the handler for adoption. The handler then assumes the financial responsibility of the care for the dog.
The Oconto County K-9 unit is financed solely through fundraisers and donations.
“This county loves these canines,” Skarban said.
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