In August, the Lakeway Police Department added Cory, a 2-year-old Belgian malinois, and in September, Orka, a 6-year-old German shepherd, to the Lakeway Police Department's first K-9 units.
Lakeway City Council approved the first dog, Cory, during its April 15 meeting. The narcotics-detecting dog is handled by Officer Sam Smith, who said Cory's first year of care and food were donated by area veterinarians and a local vendor.
Orka, also a narcotics-detecting dog, was donated to the Lakeway Police Department by the Austin Police Department and is handled by Officer Wendy Kanzenbach, Police Chief Todd Radford said. Cory was purchased from a vendor in San Antonio, he said.
Lakeway officers work 12-hour shifts on opposite days in order to put one dog on the streets on most days, Radford said.
"We are very excited about the future of the Lakeway Police Department's K-9 program," he said. "We are looking at a great year of activity from both of our handlers and our new K-9 officers."