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Moundsville Girl Donates $750 to Help Marshall County Sheriff’s K-9 Officers

Turner celebrated birthday by collecting funds for department

Photo by Alex Meyer Moundsville resident Maggie Turner, center, stands with Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Holloway, left, and Deputy Nate Klempa outside of Happy Tails Pet Salon in McMechen on Friday. K-9 officers Leonidas, left, and Spartan, right, were also present. Turner presented the $750 she raised for her 11th birthday to help K-9 officers in Marshall County.

Rather than asking for the usual gifts for her 11th birthday, Moundsville resident Maggie Turner asked for something different this year — donations to help K-9 officers in Marshall County.

In total she raised $750, all of which will go toward helping four Marshall County Sheriff’s Department K-9 handlers attend a training conference in Chicago this summer.

“We appreciate it immensely. It’s crazy to think that an 11-year-old was so selfless,” said Deputy Nate Klempa, a handler for K-9 officer Spartan, a giant schnauzer.

On Friday morning, Turner presented the money she raised to two Marshall County deputies and their K-9 companions at Happy Tails Pet Salon in McMechen. K-9 officers Spartan and Leonidas, a German shepherd, were there to greet her, tails wagging.

Turner said she decided to raise the money after her dog Sadie, a black lab, recently died. Tiffany Turner, her mother, said they originally hoped to raise $500 but exceeded their goal.

“She’s awesome,” said Terry Lindsey, owner of Happy Tails, who presented Maggie with a large, plush black lab as a gift.

The money will go to the pet salon’s “apply it forward” program, in cooperation with the Marshall County Family Resource Network, to benefit the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.

“We accept tax-deductible donations and kind of concentrate on K-9 officers and law enforcement,” Lindsey said.

Inside Happy Tails, which offers grooming and cleaning services, is a “K-9 Wall of Honor,” with signage recognizing K-9 officers in the area. Lindsey said many K-9 officers in the area get baths at her business.

The money Maggie raised will allow four Marshall County K-9 handlers to attend a Handler Instruction and Training Seminar in Chicago in August. Klempa said the seminar will help them learn how to better search for narcotics during traffic stops.

“We get to learn and then come back and teach the dogs,” he said.

Those who are interested in donating to help K-9 officers in Marshall County can go to marshallcountyfrn.com or stop by Happy Tails, Lindsey said.

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