Oregon Wildlife Foundation Hosts Fundraiser To Support OSP Conservation K-9s – KXL

HOOD RIVER, OR – The Oregon Wildlife Foundation is inviting the community to support local wildlife conservation efforts at a Locals Supporting Locals fundraising event on Wednesday, February 4, at Ferment Brewing Company, 403 Portway, Hood River.

Throughout the day, 20% of all food and beverage sales at Ferment Brewing Company will be donated to OWF to benefit the Oregon State Police Conservation K-9 Program, which plays a role in combating wildlife crimes in Oregon.

A special evening event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Ferment Event Hall. Guests will have the opportunity to meet OSP Conservation K-9s Buck and Scout, as well as Troopers Josh and Shae, learn more about the program, and interact with the canine heroes.

Admission to the evening event is donation-based, allowing attendees to contribute at a level that works for them. Each donation includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes, with additional tickets available for purchase at the door.

For those unable to attend the evening gathering, OWF encourages the community to stop by Ferment Brewing Company during regular hours, as 20% of all sales throughout February will still support the Conservation K-9 Program.

“Oregon Wildlife Foundation is dedicated to the long-term conservation of Oregon’s wildlife and habitats,” said OWF Executive Director Tim Greseth. “Poaching and associated wildlife crimes are a major problem in Oregon, so we are pleased to support Oregon State Police’s Wildlife Conservation K-9 teams.”

OWF, in partnership with the Oregon State Police, launched Oregon’s first Wildlife Conservation K-9 team in 2019. Since then, Senior Trooper Wolcott and K-9 Buck have conducted numerous poaching investigations across the state. The program’s success led to the formation of a second team in January 2023, based in Bend but deployed statewide as needed.

Most of the startup costs for both teams have been funded by OWF and its donors, while ongoing expenses—primarily veterinary care—are supported through public donations to the OSP Conservation K-9 Team Fund.

For more information about the program or to make a donation, visit myowf.org/osp-conservation-k9-team