SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) – Now that it’s happened two years in a row, should anyone even be surprised?
For a second straight April, Northeast Wisconsin was buried underneath a fresh layer of snow as winter weather has once again carried over into spring.
Many school activities were canceled and most people couldn’t wait to just head home following work and get off the roads.
That sentiment had organizers of the Team Pyro fundraiser at Bark and Brew in Suamico on Thursday feeling a little nervous.
“Well I thought for a minute that this morning because of the terrible conditions that they were going to cancel it,” says Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith.
But not only did the event carry on, but it was a hit as the crowd inside was packed from wall to wall within ten minutes of the doors opening.
For those inside the department, it comes as no surprise that throngs of people made the trek, bad weather or not, to rally around the injured K9.
“I tell you what, I can’t go into a restaurant, or a coffee shop, or the gym, without people mobbing me asking, ‘How’s the dog, how’s Pyro?’” explains Chief Smith.
The happenings at Thursday’s event included a silent auction, raffle, and plenty of furry friends to pet as community members enjoyed a brew or two.
Event organizer Heather Heil from the Bark N’ Blue Foundation says as soon as the news broke with Pyro, she knew she wanted to do something, but wasn’t sure what form it would take.
Fortunately, the pieces fell pretty quickly into place once management of Bark and Brew reached out to her and the two sides were quickly able to put together the fundraising event with just a few days of preparation.
In terms of donations, both Chief Smith and Heil say that the community continues to exceed their wildest expectations.
“Our goal was $50,000,” explains Heil. “I feel that we are there and it is early in the night.”
The initial estimation on Pyro’s medical costs following Monday’s surgery was $25,000, but Heil points out that those will continue to rise as time goes on.
She says any amount of donations that come in excess of Pyro’s costs will go right back to the Green Bay K9 program, specifically to equip each vehicle carrying a K9 officer with a life-saving emergency first aid kit, which is credited with saving Pyro’s life Sunday night.
The idea for allocating money in that direction comes right from Officer Salzmann who is the Pyro’s handler on the force.
“First and foremost, he wants a new kit for his car, a new first aid kit for his car,” says Heil. “When he and Pyro hit that road he wants it in his car.”
She encourages people to continue visiting their new website, which has an easy way to donate to the departments K9 program through PayPal.
Those inside the Green Bay Police Department say they’ve been floored by all the support they’ve received throughout the week.
Chief Smith says the entrance area to their building has seen a whirlwind of activity this week as wellwishers and concerned citizens continue to stream through.
“They are bringing in money and donating it to our K9 program,” he explains. “They are bringing in snacks to the officers, they are bringing in snacks and treats for the dogs that we have.”
More than anything else, this week has cemented one thing in the Chief’s mind.
“Number one, people in Green Bay love their dogs and they love their police dogs,” he says.
