It has been five years since the Butler police department's first patrol dog, Gunner, joined the force.

Since then, the department added another dog, Blade, in 2015 and is planning on extending the program after the dogs retire, assuming they can raise the funding.

“I think it's helped the city,” said Brian Grooms, Butler patrol officer. “If someone said, 'Hey, my department is thinking about getting a patrol dog,' I'd say, 'Go for it.'”

Grooms, who has been Gunner's handler since 2012, and Sgt. Dave Villotti are the department's two trained K-9 handlers.

Gunner and Blade have helped with everything from finding narcotics to apprehending suspects, Grooms said.

“We've had multiple non-bite apprehensions and some where the bite was needed,” he said. “We've done everything the dog is trained for.”

Grooms said having the dogs available makes it much easier to search rooms or vehicles, without putting a human officer at risk.

“If we're going into an apartment, we can let the dog go in and search for what we're looking for,” he said.

To become certified K-9 handlers, officers enroll in a 12-week course where they are matched with their dogs. After that 12 weeks are over, handlers and their dogs are certified to patrol but must go to training twice a month to ensure their skills stay sharp and the dog is doing its job properly.

“With the amount of updated training they get, I wish they did that with us (the other officers),” Villotti said.

Grooms said handlers don't have human partners — their dog is their partner — and handlers often build strong bonds with their dogs over the years patrolling the streets together.

“He's my buddy,” he said. “He's a real good dog.”

Villotti attested to this as well.

“I love my partner. He goes home with me, he lives with me, my kid loves him,” he said. “The bond is so strong no one else can use that dog.”

This can be difficult at times because police dogs are considered to be equipment rather than as officers.

“Unfortunately, sometimes I need to use him as a tool,” Villotti said.

Patrol dogs typically serve for six to 10 years depending on the dog. This gives 6-year-old Gunner four more years on the force, and Blade a little more since he is younger and smaller.

The department hopes to continue the program after these dogs retire, said Grooms, but right now the department needs to keep raising money to fund the dogs it has.

“The dogs were purchased on donated money,” he said. “We're always taking donations, and we'll need more.”

Grooms is planning on sending some letters to try to find funding to extend the program.

The benefits of patrol dogs don't come cheap. They are mostly German shepherds that are born, bred and trained for the job in Germany.

“They have the aggression, the drive and they want to do it,” Grooms said. “They are trained from birth.”

Grooms said patrol dogs have to be imported because American breeders have bred the aggression out of American dogs, due to the demand for domestic pets rather than police or military animals.

Villotti said the department is planning on selling T-shirts and holding fundraisers to pay for the dog's maintenance.

“We've gotten lucky. We've had donations and volunteers help,” he said. “All of the money comes out of the K-9 fund. The city doesn't support [this program] monetarily.”

When the dogs retire, they will go home to live with their current handlers. Though that is not always the case in other departments.

Villotti, who already has a retired K-9 at home said that would be best for Blade, who has grown very close to his handler.

“He has very bad separation anxiety,” Villotti said. “When I leave him at home, he's broken out of any kennel I put him in.”

Both Villotti and Grooms expressed their support for the program and their desire to see it continue.