The Quay County Sheriff's Office is making plans to have its own K-9 unit.

"I hope we get one. We'd like to have a dog as soon as we can," said Sheriff Joe Schallert.

Deputy Mark Dahlsten has volunteered to be the K-9 officer, Schallert said.

"Mark's my No. 1 drug man and I'd like to get the man and the dog together, " Schallert said.   

The city's only police-drug dog, Bond, who worked with the Tucumcari Police Department died after a short illness in early September. Kidney failure was suspected, said the K-9 officer.

The Sheriff's Office and Tucumcari Crimestoppers have drawn up a preliminary agreement to assist in getting a narcotics detection dog, which has to be approved by Crimestoppers, Schallert said.

The purchase and initial training of a dog is about $5,600, according to a proposal presented Monday to the Quay County Commission.
Other costs of bringing a dog on duty, more than $2,000, include annual and one-time costs, such as food, veterinarian care, items such as a tug toy and a vehicle fan,  the proposal stated.

The $780 in annual pet food costs will be donated.

 "As long as the dog doesn't eat as much as a horse," said Jimmy Watson of Tucumcari Ranch Supply. “I think it’s important for the community. The other dog helped to bring the city a lot of money (cash seizures) on traffic stops off of I-40.

“The dog usually visits the schools and I think that’s  important because my grandchildren go there. It’s a way of giving back,” Watson said.

For the Sheriff's Office to have a drug dog on its force, the Tucumcari Crimestoppers, the county commission and the Sheriff's Office have to all give their OK and sign the papers, Schallert said.