TEMECULA: Money raised for Temecula police K9 unit

A parade of pups with musty smells and dusty coats of fur entered Dogtopia on Saturday, then sauntered out a short time later with tails wagging and a clean shine.

Dogtopia's annual Canine Support Dog Wash fundraiser was a win-win of sorts for dog lovers: their pets don't stink anymore, and the Temecula Police Department's K9 unit earned some much-needed cash.

Pet owners paid $10 to have volunteers scrub down their four-legged companions, and all the proceeds benefit the Temecula Police Department's K9 unit.

"I just love dogs," said 14-year-old Temecula resident Adriana Graham as she washed a German shepherd during the event at the Commerce Center Drive business. Adriana said she didn't even mind spending her 14th birthday, which was Saturday, volunteering at the fundraiser.

"I'd do anything for them," she said of dogs. "I wasn't planning to do a whole lot today anyway. This is fun."

Police dogs don't often get credit or glory for their efforts, said Patrick Moody, owner of Dogtopia, which offers indoor dog day care, boarding and grooming services at its 5,400-square-foot facility.

"People don't really think of them as being part of the force," he said of police dogs.

But the specially trained canines can be a big help with everything from searching for narcotics and evidence to tracking missing people or suspects, he said.

The fundraiser, which is held this weekend at Dogtopias across the nation, helps police departments pay for all the little extras that come with caring for law enforcement's working dogs, he said.

On Saturday, one of the beneficiaries of the effort stood tall in the lobby of the business, greeting people with a smile and a wag of his tail. Two-year-old Astin, a German shepherd, has worked with the Temecula Police Department for about three months, said his handler, Officer Chad Staat.

"This makes us feel appreciated," Staat said. "And it helps with the costs, which can get a bit pricey at times."

For example, Astin was recently hospitalized for two days with a severe stomach irritation. He's much better now, and thanks to the fundraiser Saturday, he smells better too.

Among those taking part in the fundraiser Saturday was Diamond, a 1-year-old blue pit bull. The Gomez family had adopted her from the animal shelter at Camp Pendleton in February, and was more than happy to swing her by the event, the family said.

The family has a big soft spot for dogs, "especially pit bulls," said Tiffannee Gomez, 26, of Menifee.

"We figured we might as well take her in for a bath," she said.

Moody said not only does the fundraiser help the community, it also helps his business. Dogtopia opened in December 2007 and it almost didn't keep its doors open that first year, he said.

Between the economic recession and the misconception that Dogtopia was a kennel, he said he wasn't getting very many customers. To help change that, the business began supporting several local nonprofit animal events and shelters, and pretty much said yes to almost every philanthropic opportunity presented, Moody said.

Those efforts paid off, he said. Today, the business is at about 55 percent capacity, he said, adding there is room for more but he's happy with his strong customer base. Saturday's fundraiser is an important part of how he keeps his business alive as well as give back to the dog community.

"We love doing stuff like this," he said.

© The Californian 2011