K9-5K raises nearly $10,000 Sunday

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “It’s a pure joy, it really is,” says Richland County Deputy Stacy Parish. Deputy Parish is talking about her work with partner K9-Indy. “They are our partners, they live with us, they go home with us, they spend time with us, we spend more time with our partners here than we do sometime our own families,” says Deputy Parish. Deputy Parish says she enjoys Indy’s passion for her work the most. “When she finds that bad person or that missing child, you can just see she possess that… you can’t describe it,” says Deputy Parish. This weekend, she hopes you will come out to the “Guardians of the Night K9-5K” and meet Indy and her so-called quirks. “If she hears a weird noise or if she’s going into an unfamiliar territory she kinds of sits back and she looks at it initially and she kind of does this little funny thing with her ears, it’s kind of quirky,” says Deputy Parish. This will be the second year for the race, which is once again being sponsored by strictly running of Columbia. Jordan Lybrand, COO of Strictly Running says they are happy to support the cause. “You know all of our homes and where we run on the roads everyday are the exact places that Richland County protects,” says Lybrand This year’s race will differ from last year’s, instead it’s at night. “They are going to have a bunch of patrol cars on the course and it’s just going to be lined with blue lights,” says Lybrand. The race will also honor the memory of K9 Fargo, who lost his life protecting Richland County. Talking about the cause, brought Deputy Parish to tears. “All of the runners and walkers who contribute and participate in this annual event, the proceeds come back to the Sheriff’s department to fulfill the needs and stuff that we have for our K9’s,” says Deputy Parish. If you would like to register for “The Guardians of the Night K9-5K” before Saturday July 28, 2012 at 2:00 p.m., just visit www.strictlyrunning.com, then click on the race logo and register there. After 2:00 p.m. on Saturday July 28, 2012 you can register at the race site, which will be in front of The Plex at the Village at Sandhills. Registration will be held from 7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. The race will be held July 28, 2012 at 9:00 p.m.