Local preschool gets a visit from K9 unit

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Children at Canyon Lake Community Church Preschool had very special visitors on January 22 and 23. On both days, a police officer was present to talk to the children about what police do, but Friday’s visitor, Officer Chad Fountain of the Corona Police Department, brought his K9 partner, Spike. Officer Fountain talked to the preschoolers about how important and useful dogs in K9 units are.

Though Chad works in Corona, he has local roots. Photographer Pat Van Dyke visited the preschool on Friday because Chad was one of her students when she taught at Temple Christian School in Perris. He was in her English classes from 7th through 12th grade, graduating in 1991.

Chad lived in Canyon Lake during that time and his mother, Sharon Fountain, continues to be a Canyon Lake resident. “I think he is a great example of a Canyon Lake teen who traveled the right path and is making a huge difference in all of our lives,” says Pat.

Something interesting Pat and the preschoolers learned during Officer Fountain’s visit is that Spike was trained in the Netherlands, so all of the commands that Chad uses are in Dutch. The cost to purchase a K9 trained dog is $10,000. The students were allowed to sit behind the wheel of the police car and to look in the back seat to see where Spike rides.  Spike is part of Chad’s family and goes home with him every night.

At the time the Corona K9 unit was visiting in Canyon Lake, area residents were saddened to learn about the Riverside Sheriff’s K9, Sultan, that had been killed during a standoff with police in Hemet on January 22.