K-9 Teams Win Awards

OHMVR Division K-9 Teams Win Awards

Photo of Daniel Kenney and KiloCongratulations to the OHMVR Division K-9 teams, 'Kilo' and Handler Daniel Kenney, winners of the 2012 Top Dog Award, and 'Kota' and Handler Nathan Smith, winners of the 2012 Achievement Award.

Each year the California State Parks' K-9 teams meet at a Qualifications and Competition event where they must satisfactorily complete a series of drills which include obedience, indoor and outdoor searches, protection, and tracking.  At the end of the two-day event, two awards are presented – the Dave Graham Achievement Award and the Mike Callan Top Dog Award. The Achievement Award is presented to the K-9 team who demonstrates the most consistent improvement throughout the year.  The Top Dog Award is presented to the team demonstrating the best discipline, teamwork, and overall skills.

Ranger Kenney and 'Kilo' have been a K-9 team since 2007 and work at the Twin Cities District's Clay Pit and Prairie City SVRAs. K-9 'Kilo' is trained in officer protection, suspect apprehension, searching, tracking, and narcotics detection.

Photo of Nathan Smith and KotaK-9 'Kota', trained in obedience, officer protection, tracking, suspect apprehension, and narcotics detection, was assigned to Ranger Smith in 2010.

The State Parks' K-9 program started in 1969 in the Big Sur area with expansion into the OHMVR Division SVRAs in 1979. Currently, the OHMVR Division has K-9 teams at Ocotillo Wells, Oceano Dunes, and the Twin Cities District.

Photo of K-9 in TrainingThe OHMVR Division K-9 program not only serves the public as a well-documented crime deterrent, they are also a powerful educational tool. The teams participate in numerous interpretive events throughout the year and have been seen by hundreds of school children, fair visitors, campers, and Jr. Rangers.