Grando, a dual-purpose K-9 from Croatia, is shown with his handler, Marietta Police Department Patrol K-9 Officer Glen McClelland. Grando was 10 months old when he went through his training at Pinegrove Kennels with Master Trainer Steve Heater. (Photo Provided)

MARIETTA — Marietta Police Department’s dual-purpose canine, Grando, has so many certifications he might be able to get college credit.

He and his handler, Patrol K-9 Officer Glen McClelland, are certified to do narcotics detection, area search, building search, articles search, tracking and suspect apprehension.

The certification costs can add up. But the basic training that comes first costs even more, around $12,000 to $14,000.

That’s why a $2,000 donation to the Marietta Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12 K-9 Fund this year from the Rollin’ Oldies Car Club is so appreciated, McClelland said.

“I think the club deserves to have that kind of donation acknowledged.”

Rollin’ Oldies is based in Parkersburg but gets members from around the area, including Marietta, according to club spokesman John Husk. Each year, the club has a car show at Riverfront Roar and one at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. The club collects a set fee per entered car and donates money to both of those events. They also have donated annually to groups like the Humane Society, including the one in Marietta.

“There’s a lot of dog people in the group,” Husk says of the car club. “This year we donated to the K-9 group in Marietta. We like what they do.”

Husk can be reached about the Rollin’ Oldies Car Club at 304-481-5297.

McClelland has been a Patrol K-9 Officer for more than 20 years and is a certifier himself. Each year he and Grando attend the National Association of Canine Professional Handlers, an event involving 300 dog teams that meet at a military base location in Michigan. In addition to the Ohio certifications, the Marietta police duo has two national ones.