Saratoga Springs PD K9 unit receives $10K donation from Saratoga Casino

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Saratoga Springs Police's K9 Unit received a $10,000 donation from the Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday. The funds will go toward supporting the care, training, and equipment of the department's police dogs.

SSPD's K9 unit is composed of four police dogs and their handlers. The unit conducts a variety of operations and missions throughout the city, including tracking, searches, narcotics and explosives detection, and suspect apprehension.

"The dogs are an extension of how we do our jobs every day. The value the K-9 Unit brings to the force is immeasurable," said Saratoga Springs Police Lieutenant Paul Veitch. "We thank Saratoga Casino Hotel for recognizing the importance and for this generous donation."

The donation was part of Saratoga Casino's annual Giving Tuesday ceremony. This year, the casino donated $130,000 in total to the following 13 non-profit groups throughout the Capital Region:

• AIM Services, Inc.
• Capital Roots
• The Donna M. Crandall Memorial Foundation
• Folds of Honor
• Franklin Community Center
• Jake’s Help from Heaven
• Saratoga, America's Turning Point
• Saratoga Community Health Center
• Saratoga Regional YMCA
• Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar
• Saratoga Springs Police Department K-9 Unit
• SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children)
• The Wesley Community

"Twenty years later, this is still the event we look forward to most every year," said Skip Carlson, Vice President of External Affairs at Saratoga Casino Hotel. "Giving back to organizations that improve the lives of so many and impact our guests, team members and the overall community is an integral part of our company’s principles and something our owners truly believe in. We are honored to be in the position to help."