Lower Burrell, Tarentum among those getting Roethlisberger Foundation grants

Police dog units in Lower Burrell and Sharpsburg and Eureka Fire Rescue EMS in Tarentum are among the latest groups receiving grants from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation.

Nine departments in Pennsylvania received at total of $82,100 in the final round of grants for the foundation's 2017-18 campaign.

“The Lower Burrell Police Department would like to thank the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for selecting our department to receive a grant to assist us in purchasing a new K-9 police vehicle,” Lower Burrell police Chief Tim Weitzel said.

Lower Burrell received a $10,000 grant from the foundation.

Rich Heuser, Eureka's chief of operations, said the $1,000 they received will support the department's two firehouse dogs, Ramsey and Ashes.

The dogs not only serve as mascots for the department but also assist in fire prevention classes, K-9 CPR and first aid training, and function as therapy dogs and canine counselors.

In thanking the foundation, Heuser said, “The funds will go a long way to help offset food and veterinary expenses.”

This is the third year that the Roethlisberger Foundation has awarded grants to Eureka for its dogs, said Shannon R. McKruit, Eureka's operations manager.

To make their grant application stand out, McKruit submitted a letter from one of the department's two dalmatians, Ramsey:

“I'm asking for $1,000 to help with food and medical supplies, as yunz can see from the expensive report, we et a lot of food and for some reason, our servants take us to the vets (really don't like that place).”

Sharpsburg received a $10,000 grant toward a specially outfitted vehicle for its new police dog, said Bill Rossey, Sharpsburg borough manager.

“The benefits of a K-9 are wide-ranging and will be an asset to Sharpsburg and the entire region,” Sharpsburg Mayor Matthew V. Rudzki and police Chief Thomas Stelitano said in a joint statement. “With the use of the K-9, our department can continue to engage and build relationships with the community while also making Sharpsburg a safer place to call home.” Other programs receiving grants in this round are: Beaver Township Police Department, Edinboro Borough Police Department, City of McKeesport Police Department, Ohio Township Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and Hopewell Township Police Department

This year's round of grants, the 11th for the foundation, totalled $170,000, according to the foundation. The mission of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is to support K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States, with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in the Pittsburgh region. Roethlisberger and the foundation also strive to support Make-A-Wish

The foundation has distributed more than $1.9 million since 2007.