K-9 Units Make CSUN Doggone Fun During the “Meet The Dogs” Event

  • CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison poses with DPS Officer Cpl. Tom Finnerty and his K-9 partner Isy. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • CSUN DPS Office Cpl. Tom Finnerty takes his K-9 partner Isy out to begin his demonstration at the "Meet the Dogs" event on April 16. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • CSUN DPS K-9 Officer Isy mixes with the crowd at the "Meet the Dogs" event. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Daniel Inglis, lead trainer from the Inglis Police Dog Academy, demonstrates techniques with K-9 officer Idol from the Glendale Police Department. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • A padded volunteer from the Inglis Police Dog Academy demonstrates K-9 officer techniques with Rene from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • Ventura County Sheriff's Office's Deputy John Carver and his K-9 Tommy meet with CSUN student Karen Moreno (Business Law). Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Ventura County Sheriff's K-9 cop duo Deputy Scott Reeder & Yoshi (center) take a break with CSUN students Emily Cuevas (Kineseology), left, and Anna Maria Avila (Geography). Photo by Lee Choo.

California State University, Northridge was the setting for an energetic dog show as the campus’ Department of Police Services — along with the Cypress Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Ventura County Search and Rescue and Department of Homeland Security — showed off their tough but lovable K-9 unit dogs during April 16’s “Meet The Dogs” event. The afternoon demonstration, which took place on the Bayramian Hall Lawn, highlighted the dogs’ proficiency in narcotics and explosives detection, as well as a demonstration of search and rescue, tracking and handler protection techniques.

On the CSUN side, DPS officers Cpl. Tom Finnerty and Anthony Vargas led the training exercises, along with some very willing participants who allowed the police pups to practice their stopping power. The event has become a yearly occasion to both bring awareness to the community about the great work the dogs do, and also to support police services by selling CSUN Police Department K9 merchandise. All proceeds support the CSUN K-9 unit, are tax deductible, and some t-shirts and plush K-9 dog toys are still available. If you’re interested, stop by the DPS Building at the corner of Darby and Prarie, or by calling DPS Capt. A. Fernandez at (818) 677-3961.