Police K-9s from around the country compete in Scottsdale this weekend

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Police K-9s from around the country will compete in Scottsdale this weekend.

They capture the bad guys, sniff out drugs and detect bombs, all in a day's work for a law enforcement working dog.

Seventy-five teams will compete at the ninth annual Desert Dog Police K-9 Trials at Scottsdale Stadium.

Dogs and handlers from across the state and the country will gather on Saturday and Sunday to showcase their skills in front of a crowd expected to number in the thousands.

The event allows K-9 teams to train while demonstrating a valuable community resource.

That resource is becoming increasingly harder to find.

"We're competing with the military for the best dogs now," explained Officer Owen Keefe, a dog handler with the Scottsdale Police Department. "They're acquiring so many dogs for combat operations, the demand outweighs the supply."

That leaves local police departments with a thinner stock from which to choose.

Keefe's partner is a Belgian Malinois names Marco. He was born in Holland. In fact, most police dogs are brought over from Europe. That alone is expensive. Now that the supply is so thin, a dog that used to cost $2,500 now costs $10,000. Add training, equipment and medical care on top of that and you can see just how pricey these dogs can be.

However, police officers agree they pay for themselves.

"Most bad guys give up when we threaten to send the dogs in," said Keefe. "They prevent us from having to escalate the situation by using deadly force."

The dogs also sniff out drugs and they money used to pay for them.

"We were out at the airport a while back and Marco sniffed out thousands of dollars worth of drug money in a hidden compartment on an airplane," said Keefe.

For the dogs, each mission is playtime, and every playtime is a mission. They're constantly training and keeping their skills sharp.

The dogs work until they are no longer able to. Some work until they're ten years old, others retire earlier. It all depends on their health and drive. When it is time to retire, the officers typically welcome their former partners into their homes as pets.

You can see dogs like Marco at the Desert Dog Police K-9 Trials this weekend at Scottsdale Stadium near Osborn and Drinkwater. Swat demonstrations, vendors and charities will also add to the event. The games begin at 9am on Saturday and 7:30am on Sunday.

Admission is free, but organizers are asking for a $1 donation at the gate. The money will help cover the costs of the event and will be split with a local animal charity.

Dogs will also be available for adoption.