LaGRANGE —The LaGrange Police Department will place their K9 units front and center Saturday allowing the community to meet the dogs and their handlers at the Sweetland Amphitheatre on Smith Street.

The meet and greet is part of the first ever LPD Paw Day; organized by Officer Wendy Bryant and her K9 partner Chico.

Bryant said the event is their way of saying “thank you” to the community who has supported the K9 unit and all the LaGrange police officers throughout the years.

Folks will be able to speak one on one with Bryant and Chico; Officer Joshua Clower and his K9 partner, Deek; Cpl. Jeffrey Bryant and Rik; and Cpl. Mike Barton and his K9, Dax.

The team will also hold two demonstrations during the Paw Day event to showcase what the K9s are trained to do with their handlers for the police department.

“They will do a drug search, track a ‘missing person,’ perform an article search and show obedience,” Bryant explained. “We’re going to take the focus off the dogs doing bite work. We want people to realize that these dogs have a lot more value than just an apprehension side of them.

“They are crossed trained. We get called out throughout Troup County and to nearby counties to help track missing adults or wanted felons.”

Paw Day will have events for adults and children.

Bryant said the first 300 people through the gates at the new amphitheater will receive hot dogs, chips, a drink and a raffle ticket that could win prizes like jewelry, gift cards or dinner at Venucci’s.

She also said the first 250 kids at Paw Day will get a gift bag that contains an honorary police badge, a coloring book that was created by an LPD staff member and includes pictures of the K9 unit with their dogs, a “thank you note” from the K9s with their paw prints, along with crayons and other items.

Paw Day will be Saturday, March 26, at the Sweetland Amphitheatre on Smith Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is open to the public and free of charge.