LAKE COUNTY NEWS – Many professions are said to have a “retirement bubble,” when a wave of retirees are expected to leave their careers and create a lot of vacancies.

It's happening here in Lake County with an unlikely group – law enforcement canines.

Over the past month, four local K-9s have hung up their badges.

On May 1, Lakeport Police retired its K-9 officer, Max, who now lives in retirement with his partner, Jim Bell, in Kelseyville, as Lake County News has reported.

Lakeport Police officials have said they're waiting to go through this year's budget process to see if they'll be able to afford a new canine, given the city's financial straits.

Following Max, three Lake County Sheriff's K-9s have been retired out.

On May 19, the Board of Supervisors approved conveying Django to sheriff's Sgt. John Gregore.

Then, last Tuesday, two more dogs' retirements became official, when the board approved releasing Shenoe to Correctional Officer Hank Comstock and Axle to Deputy Richard Ward.

That leaves the sheriff's office with one active K-9, Officer Zap, said Capt. James Bauman.

“He's gone in service with the department within the last year,” Bauman said of Zap.

Bauman said the agency hopes to send one or two deputies later this year to Adlerhorst International Inc., a K-9 academy located in Riverside. Adlerhorst also sells K-9s, and was where Lakeport Police also got Max several years ago.

Dogs from Adlerhorst range from $5,500 for detection dogs up to $9,600 for dual purpose dogs. There also is an annual fee of $1,600 to keep the dogs certified for Police Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Meanwhile, Clearlake Police is getting closer to being able to reestablish its K-9 program.

The agency's last K-9, Merlin, retired years ago, said Lt. Mike Hermann.

Over the past year and a half, Clearlake Police has been raising funds for its program. Hermann said they've raised $15,000 of the $20,000 they've estimated they need to start the program, from purchasing the dog to covering training expenses and patrol car modifications.

Hermann said they're looking at a few different options, and also have had offers for dog donations.

“We've had K-9s in the past but they've only been drug detection dogs,” said Hermann, explaining that they're hoping to have a cross-trained dog that can also be a protection dog.

Anyone wanting to make a donation to the department's K-9 program can send a check – with a notation that the money goes to the K-9 fund – to the Clearlake Police Department, 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, 95422.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .