Category Archives: Events

Events

Barks & Badges – Save the Date!

K9 Partners is excited to announce that Barks and Badges will be moving to Rancho San Rafael in North Reno this summer! Plans are underway to bring you an exciting and fun event for the whole family (except pets – please leave your pet children at home).

When: Sunday, August 2nd
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Rancho San Rafael – Reno, Nevada
Admission: FREE

Please note: While the admission is free, we are inviting you to help us feed pets in need by bringing a canned or dry pet food donation.

More details will be coming as we get closer to the event. Vendor request details will be posted soon.

Poster for 2026 Barks and Badges

Events, Gift Items

🐾 Support Our K9 Heroes—Get Your 2026 Washoe County K9 Calendar! 🐾

Celebrate the courage and companionship of our Washoe County K9s and their deputy partners with this stunning 28-page full-color calendar. Each month features vivid photography and practical calendar layouts that honor the dedication of these working dogs.

📅 Donation: $20
🚚 Shipping: $5
💙 All proceeds directly support the Washoe County K9 Unit

You can purchase your calendar online at Gift Shop to have it mailed to you, or pick one up in person at the Scheels Meet & Greet on November 15, 10 AM – 2 PM.

🎁 These calendars make thoughtful gifts for dog lovers, law enforcement supporters, and anyone who appreciates the bond between K9s and their handlers.

Thank you for supporting our four-legged heroes!

Events

Barks and Badges

Just two weeks away!

K9 Partners, in conjunction with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, will be hosting Barks and Badges 2025 at Bartley Ranch Park, just off Lakeside Drive in Reno, Nevada.

This FREE event welcomes everyone to come learn about Washoe County Services, our amazing First Responders, and meet the K9 team from the Sheriff’s Office. The event runs from 10 AM to 2 PM with several demonstrations of the K9s showing some of the skills and techniques used to handle scenarios. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet some of the K9s and their deputy handlers.

We also have representatives from numerous health, wellness, and safety organizations, such as Safe Kids Washoe County and Child ID, that will be happy to talk with you about their services.

Other vendors have unique items to sell, and K9 Partners will have a booth where you can buy shirts, mugs, and souvenir license plates. They will also answer questions you have about our organization and how to get a custom K9 license plate and why we’re encouraging them.

An area for children’s game is set aside where your youngsters can play games, talk to each other, and perhaps get their faces painted. Artsy Fartsy Mama will be wielding her paintbrush nearby.

We’ll have three food trucks on the Site:
Taster’s Paradise Café & Bakery
Super Swirl
Lety’s Tacos

For a full list of vendors, visit our Vendor Page.

Mark your calendar now and plan to come see us at this year’s event.

Events, New Dogs, Uncategorized

Meet & Greet at Scheels This Saturday!

Hey, K9 lovers! A few of our Washoe County Sheriff’s Office K9s will be at the Scheels store at Legends on Saturday, November 16 to greet all the lovely people who want to meet them. Rumor has it our newest K9 Maggie will be there.

K9 Partners will be set up with some merchandise including shirts, mugs, and our 2025 calendar right off the presses. This is the first opportunity to get a copy. Come say hi and meet the dogs!

Events

Barks and Badges 2024

Save the Date!

This year’s Barks and Badges will be June 1st at Bartley Ranch Regional Park. Admission is FREE! Everyone is welcome, but please leave your pets at home. The Washoe County K9s will be out and available to meet with their deputy handlers. This is a wonderful opportunity to see what the K9 unit and other units and public services from Washoe County do.

We will have vendors and food trucks, demos, and some activities. The list of vendors and services for this year will be going up soon.

Plan on joining us for this fun and informative event.

Ceremonies, Events, Thanks, Uncategorized

K9 Kyago Retires

Photo by Mike Lucido, Eighty8 Studios

01/03/24- Today, K9 Kyago ended his service with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office after almost 8 years as Deputy Dunham’s partner.

We are going to miss you, Kyago! But we are so happy to wish you a very happy retirement. You have earned a promotion to the position of “King of the Couch”! Such a Good Boy!

The following is from the WCSO’s Facebook page:

Today, Sheriff Balaam hosted a ceremony for the retirement of K9 Kyago after seven years of loyal service to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and our community.
In 2016, K9 Kyago was partnered with Deputy Dunham and completed his training at Vohne Liche Kennels in Indiana before joining the WCSO. Kyago served as a dual-purpose K9, trained in narcotics detection, subject apprehension, and tracking.
Kyago had a tremendous career serving in both the patrol division and on the Northern Nevada Interdiction Task Force alongside his partner, Deputy Dunham.
Kyago played a crucial role in removing millions of dollars worth of illicit narcotics from our streets and, with his social disposition, was always a crowd favorite at community events.
“Our K9s not only help to ensure the safety of our community, but they are beloved members of our office who bring our community together,” said Sheriff Balaam. “On behalf of the entire Sheriff’s Office, thank you for your dedicated service, Kyago! Enjoy your well-earned retirement with your family.”

Events

Many Thanks to Scheels!

We are so grateful for the support we receive from Scheels at Legends and for hosting our November Meet and Greet at their store. I’m a little late in getting the photos posted from this year’s event. Thanks so much to Crystal Powell from WCSO for taking these fabulous pictures and sending them to us.

Click to see the larger photos. All photos by Crystal Powell

We had a great time meeting new people and talking to those we know from previous years. The community support is very important to us, so thank you very much.