Meet dream team Django, Gosselin at annual SPPD K9 Spaghetti Dinner
April 20, 2016
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula Officer who always wanted to partner with a K9 and the dog that made his dream come true will be introduced to the community at the Santa Paula K9 Spaghetti Dinner.
You’ll have a doggone good time and help a great cause at the annual dinner to be held Wednesday, April 27.
The Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation will be putting on the dog — or rather three dogs — at the event honoring retired K9 Zak, ready to rumble Ace and the SPPD’s newest K9 Django.
The dinner — featuring spaghetti and meatballs, green salad, garlic toast and ice cream sandwiches for dessert — will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Community Center. The exciting program where the dogs show their crime-fighting stuff will start at 7 p.m.
Officer Daniel Gosselin, who served the SPPD as a Reserve for five years before being hired full-time more than two years ago, always dreamt of partnering with a K9.
Watching reruns of “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin” on TV as a boy sealed Gosselin’s future.
Said Gosselin, “As long as I wanted to be a police officer I wanted to be a K9 officer…it was a passion of mine. I have a passion for working dogs.”
After the training period the two have been on the streets for two months.
The black German Shepard with a distinctive white spot on his chest is 18 months old — “The youngest working dog in Ventura County” — and playful with kids but tough on criminals.
Gosselin said Django particularly enjoys meeting the public.
At the Spaghetti Dinner it will be obvious to guests that Gosselin and the new SPPD K9 have a special relationship: “Training and having him as a partner is the most amazing thing in the world…”
The pocket friendly annual dinner is hit with families, especially children who enjoy the tablemats featuring the SPPD K9s and their handlers ready to be autographed.
Tickets are still only $15 each for adults and $5 each for children 12 and younger. Takeout is available for $15 a plate; child takeout is not available.
The evening will also feature fun raffles and plenty of socializing and photo opportunities with the dogs and their handlers: the retired Zak and Larry Johnson, a former SPPD Senior Officer.; Ace and his handler Senior Officer Allen Macias and the SPPD’s newest K9, Django and Gosselin.
A special treat at this year’s dinner will be the traditional K9 plush toys as well as a new addition succulents planted in decorated dog dishes, only $10 each.
Also available for sale and order will be new SPPD K9 sweatshirts, T-shirts and polo shirts and tanks, specifically designed styles for men and women; caps will also be on sale. Shirt prices depend on the style.
Tickets are now available at the Santa Paula Times, 120 Davis St. and at the Santa Paula Police Department, 214 S. 10th St.
For more information call SPP&FF Treasurer and Dinner Chairwoman Debbie Johnson at 805-525-1890.
