Six New Oklahoma Search Team Dogs Receive Needed Supplies
The Cherokee Casino’s “Anything Can Happen” promotion donated $10,000 to the Oklahoma Task Force One Canine Search Team. The donation will help six new dogs train and develop into search and rescue dogs.
Courtesy of Cherokee Casino
(TULSA) – As part of Cherokee Casinos ‘Anything Can Happen’ promotion, the Oklahoma Task Force One Canine Search Team recently received a $10,000 donation. The donation was given as a surprise to the unit, which is gathering supplies for six new dogs to be trained and aided properly.
“This was definitely a fun donation for us. Just having the dogs on property made it enjoyable for many of our guests and employees. The Cherokee Nation helped this group get started with purchasing the first two dogs two years ago, so we are happy to provide even more assistance to keep this group funded. They are ready to assist our Cherokee marshals and any other law enforcement in search team efforts,” said David Stewart, of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which operates Cherokee Casinos.
“We knew we were coming out here for a presentation, but we didn’t expect this,” said R.B. Ellis, task force leader of Oklahoma Task Force One. “What a lot of people don’t realize is that we don’t receive federal funding. The K-9 units were not part of the original funding from Homeland Security, so we operate off of donations. This donation from Cherokee Casinos will help us get to where we need to be and make our canine unit complete.
“We are in line to receive six more dogs, so this additional funding will help make sure they receive the supplies and training needed to receive their training license. We really appreciate this support.”
In addition to the $10,000 donation to the OK-TF1 Canine Search Team, Cherokee Casinos has recently given more than $49,000 to other local nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations as well as entities such as Tulsa Zoo Friends, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Rogers County, the Resonance Center for Women, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and the Roland Police Department. Cherokee Casinos began giving these donations as part of the ‘Anything Can Happen’ promotion in early June.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment operates seven casinos located in Catoosa, West Siloam Springs, Tahlequah, Fort Gibson, Roland, Sallisaw and Claremore, and employs more than 3,400 people in northeastern Oklahoma.
Photo cutline: The Oklahoma Task Force One Canine Search Team receives $10,000 from Cherokee Casinos as part of their ‘Anything Can Happen’ promotion. The donation will help the team’s six new dogs receive the training and supplies they need to aid Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma law enforcement in their search team efforts.
Updated 07-04-2009
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