The Marquette Police Department’s John Waldo, who also is president of the Upper Peninsula K9 Training Group, is shown with Odin, a K-9 explosives detection dog, during the “Pawty” on the Patio and Bike Night at the Up North Lodge on July 2. Other area K-9s made an appearance at the recent fundraiser. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

By CHRISTIE MASTRIC

Journal Staff Writer

GWINN — A popular restaurant in Forsyth Township had a long waiting list for people to be seated on July 2 but it also was a place for people to meet local K-9s involved in law enforcement.

The “Pawty” on the Patio and Bike Night took place that day at the Up North Lodge, with Honor Credit Union as the event’s sponsor. The event served as a fundraiser for the Upper Peninsula K9 Training Group, a registered nonprofit that provides support to K-9 teams across the U.P. through equipment donations, training and the purchase of new dogs for departments.

U.P.K9 was created in memory of the Marquette Police Department’s late K-9, Nitro, who died two years ago.

The Marquette Police Department was able to acquire K-9 Odin — an explosives detection dog — through the supporters of the 2022 Bike Night, said MPD Officer John Waldo, president of U.P.K9, who handles K-9 dogs Odin and Zepp for the police department.

Odin cost $8,500, he said, although money was raised through other fundraisers.

Waldo called Odin “just a goofy yellow Lab.” However, the K-9 — as is the case with all law enforcement K-9s — has a much greater purpose than comic relief.

“They can smell things and detect things a lot faster than we can as humans, and they can clear buildings and vehicles and packages a lot more efficiently than if we had to do it manually,” Waldo said. “The dogs have way more olfactory cells in their nose. They can smell stuff that we couldn’t normally smell or detect.

“It’s just all about keeping the community safe and just early warning and avoidance.”

This year’s fundraiser, which involved raffles and the sale of merchandise, also served as a meet-and-greet for other K-9s in the area: Alger from the Alger County Sheriff’s Office; Bico from Gladstone Public Safety; and Jace from the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office. D&D Dog Dynamics, based in Gladstone, also made an appearance during the event.

John’s wife, Amy, said in an email after the fundraiser that this year’s event raised about $1,300.

For more information, visit upk9traininggroup.com, which includes a tribute to Nitro from Waldo.

“He was more than just a working dog, he was an ambassador of goodwill and a friendly face of the Marquette Police Department,” Waldo wrote. “His charm drew the attention of everyone he came into contact with and he was always eager to meet new people. His true measure was not felt until June 28, 2021 when he was diagnosed with an inoperable condition on his eighth birthday. Sadly, he never left the veterinary office that day and the community lost their faithful K-9.

“The true depth of his hold on the community and the strength of his grip on the hearts of those who knew him was not fully realized in life.”

However, in Nitro’s memory, U.P.K9 was launched to support and provide for K-9 teams in the U.P.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.