Junior readers raise funds for police dog

Children have so much to give to the world, and it is vital that they receive guidance in learning the value of doing so.

That's the basis of Southeast Missourian Jr.'s Pay for the Pup campaign. It's an ideal model in learning the value of sacrificing time and money for a good cause.

It began with the retirement of Jupp, the Cape Girardeau Police Department's drug-sniffing German shepherd for the past eight years. Jupp is 10 years old and has arthritis, and his joints won't take the stress of riding in a patrol car and hopping in and out on assignments.

But Jupp represented the value of a fine police dog. Cross-trained in police protection, drug searches and tracking, he was on the job day after day, year after year, tracking down bad guy after bad guy. His nose, nearly 8,000 times more sensitive than a human's, sniffed out drugs in unlikely hiding places. He was particularly instrumental in Operation Safe Streets, a major anti-drug campaign launched in 1996 to target dealers.

When Jupp was officially retired this year, he left a large gap in the police force. And with a tight city budget leaving no room for unexpected expenses, there is no money to fill his spot.

Cheryl Ellis, editor of the Southeast Missourian Jr., immediately saw the opportunity to do something great for young readers and for the city. The Southeast Missourian Jr. is a monthly newspaper written by youngsters for youngsters, and this was their chance to start giving back at an early age.

Since March 4, young students in Cape Girardeau and Jackson have been working with Tracker, the Southeast Missourian Jr. mascot, to raise $9,000 for Jupp's replacement. It hasn't been easy, but Ellis has had some great ideas to help raise the needed money. There's an online auction at semissourian.com where the top bidder will receive two front-row seats and backstage passes to see Kenny Chesney at the Show Me Center on April 19, plus a cowboy hat, lunch and dinner for two, a limousine ride and other goodies.

And Tracker Night is set for Auto Tire and Parks Racepark on Saturday. Tracker will be selling tickets at the event for a chance to win money, and the fund drive will get half the proceeds. Tickets for the track's opening night are available at the Southeast Missourian.

Everyone should be sure to help young people learn a valuable lesson and help the city by donating for a new police dog.