FAIRBURY, NE — Jefferson County is looking to expand its roster with man’s best friend.

With one K-9 in training, Sheriff Nick Georgi hopes to buy another one soon, but it comes with quite a price tag.

"The current rough cost of a K-9 right now is right around $13,000," Georgi said. "And that's just to purchase the K-9. And then you have vet care — we get a lot of that donated though — food, supplies for the dog, equipment for the dog."

Jefferson County’s K-9 program is funded through donations and grants — not taxpayer dollars. The southeast Nebraska community hasn’t had a police K-9 in about three years. As the new dog is trained, it has renewed fundraising efforts for the program.

"We've received a lot of donations in the past and some grant monies," Georgi said. "This is what makes it possible for us to have a K-9 is with the help of our community. We're very grateful for everything we've received in the past and everything we'll continue to receive."

Eventually adding a second dog would help avoid another one of those gaps, according to Georgi.

The dogs will of course help with narcotics investigations, but Georgi says K-9’s abilities go well beyond helping police take drugs off the streets.

"Another thing that's a huge benefit for our K-9 program is our K-9 is going to be trained in tracking," Georgi said. "You know, in search and rescue situations, and tracking people, every minute counts. Having this extra resource will help out tremendously."

Georgi says the K-9 currently in training is over halfway through that process. They currently have about half the funds they need to purchase the second K-9.