The ninth Iron Dog competition was recently held on the grounds of Camp Kiniya in Colchester, says the Rutland Herald. Sixty teams registered for the competition, which helps the Vermont Canine Association fund benefit retired police dogs. Half of the field consisted of police K-9 units; the other half were civilians. Ella, a labrador retriever, gave out kisses for $1 each; Widget, a chihuahua, entered the 1.5 mile-obstacle course; Leila, a German shepherd, considered the event an opportunity to meet other dogs and their owners; and Tazor, a Belgian Malinois, ran a sprint. Bob Bailey, whose K-9 partner was injured but who raced with another K-9 Department pup, feels the addition of a dog on a police department’s roll call enhances what the squad can offer the public. “The dogs can help with missing people, larcenies, burglaries,” he said. There was general agreement that dogs rule.