Photo by Romi White. Pictured are K9 Idgie with handler Deputy Marshal Holbrook, Sheriff Bob Johnson, Ashley Strabala, Sgt. Roman Jackson and K9 Zeus with handler Deputy Chris Mann.
A special presentation took place this afternoon at the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office District 2 office. Navarre resident Ashley Strabala presented Sheriff Bob Johnson and the agency’s K9 units with cooling collars and mats.
“I’ve had dogs all my life,” said Strabala, who came across an online sale of the ASPCA reversible pet cooling mats and cooling collars. Using her own money, Strabala purchased all seven of the available mats.
Coincidentally, there are seven K9s, said Sgt. Roman Jackson, who overs the K9 units and expressed appreciation for the donation.
Strabala said she felt compelled to make the contribution because a local dog passed away from the heat.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, each year hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion when left in parked vehicle.
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office K9 unit deputies leave their vehicles running for the safety of their canine partners.
Sheriff Johnson thanked Strabala for her contribution.
“I think everyone should do their part to leave their community better than they found it,” she said.
