Butler police will hold a fundraising concert for its police dogs this Saturday at Kelly Automotive Park.

The benefit concert will begin at noon and will feature multiple bands, food and beer. Gates to the park will open at 11 a.m.

The city has two police dogs — Gunner and Blade. The German shepherds are handled by officers Brian Grooms and Dave Villotti, respectively.

Villotti said the fundraiser is important because the K-9 program is not funded in the city’s budget but rather through private donations and T-shirt sales.

“This is one of the few ways we can collect money to keep the program going,” he said.

While other organizations have raised money for the police dogs in the past, this concert will be the first event hosted by the department.

Villotti, who has been involved in the local music scene, said he came up with the idea for a concert.

He thought he could attract three or four bands for the show.

“Next thing I know we had nine,” he said, adding the bands will perform until 10 p.m.

“It’ll be more like a festival,” he said.

The city has spent $101,000 on its two K-9 officers since the program was started in 2012, according to city records. All of the money has come from private donations, T-shirt sales, and fundraising dinners.

More than $44,000 was spent in 2012 alone for starting up the unit. The city spent nearly $29,000 in 2013 and nearly $23,000 in 2014.

It has spent nearly $6,000 this year, including about $1,000 to rent Kelly Automotive Park for the fundraiser.

The funding goes to covering expense for everything from dog food to safety equipment for the officers.

Mayor Tom Donaldson said the cost of the dogs is worth it.

“I can’t say enough about them,” he said. “They’ve more than proved their worth. With the drug problems in today’s society — they’re a tool that once you work with you can’t go without.”

While the cost of the K-9 unit has hit six figures in expenses, the city has raised more than $122,000 over that same time to support the program.

Earlier this year, it raised $4,000 through a dinner at the Tanglewood Center in Lyndora.

It has earned about $71,000 through various donations and $43,000 through T-shirt sales since 2012.

Tickets for Saturday’s event cost $15 in advance and $20 at the gate and are available at the police station, 200 W. New Castle St.