COLUMBIANA — Support for the city’s new K-9 program has been overwhelming, with more than $49,000 dollars in donations raised in only a matter of months.

Police Chief Tim Gladis told council this week there is about $10,000 left to raise to cover the entire cost of implementing the program, which he has estimated at about $60,000.

As of this week, the department has collected $49,360 in donations.

Gladis said officer Bryan Granchie and Csuti, the German shepherd the department picked to serve as K-9 officer, are nearing the completion of the 10-week intensive training through the highway patrol.

Granchie will serve as Csuti’s handler upon successful completion of the program.

The two will take a final examination test on June 20, Gladis said.

He added they are currently training in surface changes in tracking skills, meaning Csuti’s ability to track across a variety of surfaces, like grass to concrete to gravel, and so forth.

“He is trained to track on all surfaces as they change,” Gladis said, adding that Csuti has also memorized all of the various drugs he would be required to sniff out.

The pair have completed leashed searches and are now working on off-leash searches, he added.

Csuti is also being trained on how to stop before apprehension if a suspect gives up during pursuit.

Gladis said he hopes the remaining $10,000 will come in as easily as the other donations, and encouraged people to continue supporting the program through T-shirt sales and local fundraising events.

“It’s like losing weight, that last five pounds is always tough,” he joked.

kwhite@mojonews.com