County hosting K9 training

Don’t be alarmed if you see a lot of police officers with K-9 dogs searching around in your neighborhood the next few days. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is hosting K-9 certifications beginning today through Wednesday.

About 60 K-9 units from throughout Michigan and Ontario are in the area working on their United States Police Canine Association certifications. The K-9 units will be competing in areas of tracking, explosives detection, narcotic detection and cadaver search.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Police are co-hosting the trials being held at locations in Amber, Hamlin and Pere Marquette townships. The certifications are not open to the public. Plans are to hold a second round in the near future that will be open to the public, however.