Boiler Bay Beacon
SALEM — Oregon kids ages 9–17 have a paws-itively exciting opportunity to help name Oregon State Police’s newest conservation K-9.
The one-year-old red Labrador Retriever is in training to join the Fish & Wildlife Division’s K-9 team alongside K-9 Scout and K-9 Drake. While handlers may still call him “Good Dog” for now, OSP wants an official name that reflects his important work protecting Oregon’s wildlife, fish, and natural resources.
OSP is inviting Oregon youth to submit name ideas now through June 14, 2026. Suggested names should be wildlife, fish, or outdoors related. One entry per youth.
Kids can submit their suggestions using the official OSP online entry form here:
Finalists will be selected from the entries for a statewide public vote. The youth who submits the winning name will get to meet the new K-9 in person and receive special recognition from OSP.
About the Conservation K-9 Program
OSP’s conservation K-9 program began in 2018 with K-9 Buck, who recently retired after years of service. These specially trained dogs assist troopers with wildlife detection, human tracking, and area searches. They are trained to detect deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl, salmon, sturgeon, firearms, shell casings, and other evidence related to poaching and illegal take of wildlife and fish.
The new K-9 team will be stationed at OSP’s La Grande patrol office, joining existing teams based in Bend and Springfield.
The program is a partnership between the Oregon State Police and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation, which helps fund veterinary care, training equipment, and supplies through the Wildlife Conservation K-9 Fund.
For more information, visit the Oregon State Police website or follow OSP on social media for updates on the contest and the new K-9 recruit.
