Cary, N.C. — The Town of Cary will double the size of its K-9 officer program this weekend when Officer Seth Everett and his four-legged partner, Axle, hit the streets for the first time as the town’s new K-9 team.

With the new addition, Cary will be able to provide canine assistance seven days a week and expand coverage of its program, police said. K-9 teams assist in locating missing persons, recovering evidence, searching for narcotics and apprehending criminals.

“Canine officers are tried and true law enforcement tools that add safety, speed and a keen sense of smell to the job at low costs and with low risk to the public,” said Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore. “Seth and Axle are a proven team, and we are proud to have them join Jeremy and Max as our newest K-9 unit.”

Everett joined the Cary Police Department in October 2007, bringing 10 years of experience and national certification as a police canine handler. His dog, Axle, is a 6-year-old German shepherd that a Cary citizen donated to Everett.

Everett and Axle worked as a K-9 unit for the Carrboro Police Department for four years before coming to Cary.  The pair joins Master Officer Jeremy Burgin and Max, who kicked off the town’s K-9 service in 2005.

Cary will pay $1 per year to lease Axle and will spend about $15,000 to equip the additional K-9 unit. Food and medical expenses for Axle are being donated by Veterinary Specialty Hospital and Mayfair Animal Hospital in Cary, who also provide free medical care for Max.

Donations from community partners have helped the town defer costs and make Cary’s K-9 program a greater success, Bazemore said.

“The community has shown tremendous support for the Town’s K-9 program since it launched three years ago, and we are pleased to expand this highly praised and embraced service,” Bazemore said.