Inspired by the loss of a 13-year-friend and a newspaper article about another's similar loss, a local businessman stepped up to make a difference.
Jonathan Wood, the owner of Wood Crest Golf Course, said he has been giving back to the community for several years but recently saw another way he wanted to contribute.
"We had been holding annual golf tournaments to benefit a non-profit group that helps dogs, but after losing Chloe, I didn't know if I wanted to keep it going," Wood said.
"Then I saw an article in The Post-Journal about a local police officer losing his dog, and I decided to see what people thought about a tournament to benefit the police and their K-9 units."
Both the Jamestown Police Department and the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office have specially trained K-9 officers, which are generally paid for by local budgets and grant money, when it's available. That money covers the basics needed to keep the animal eating and getting regular check-ups, as they live a lifestyle which is more active than many dogs.
Wood said the tournament, which is scheduled to take place on Sept. 17, is called Paws of the Law, and will raise money to buy the dogs things that are otherwise unattainable.
"After talking with several police officers, I came to understand that too often, these dogs go without bulletproof vests and other protective gear that is standard for their human counterparts," he said. "The money raised in the tournament will pay for those types of things and help pay for specialized training and anything else that benefits these animals that work everyday to keep the public safe."
Wood's golf course companion, Chloe, recently passed away. She was a beagle, lab and husky mix, and she spent everyday with Wood at home and work.
"She was a part of the family- we did everything together," Wood said. "The K-9 police dogs live with their handlers and I know they feel the same way. Hopefully this will allow them to get some of the extra things that there just isn't money available for."
The inaugural tournament will take place at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, at the Wood Crest Golf Course, which is located on Wall Street Road in the town of Chautauqua. It will be a four-man scramble format and the entry fee includes 18 holes of golf and a cart, lunch at the turn and a chicken BBQ dinner, special events and prizes.
Individual entries cost $65 and a foursome can enter for a total of $260. There are still holes available for sponsorship and Wood is still accepting donations for the tournament, which is being sponsored by Farm Fresh Foods of Jamestown.
For more information, contact Wood at 789-4653.
