Is the naming rights industry going to the dogs?

Well, not really. But it was kind of reported that way in the local media after the $1.1 billion HAPO Community Credit Union in Richland, Wash., donated $12,000to the city of Pasco to buy a new K-9 police pup.

Pasco City Manager Gary Crutchfield was eager to set the recordstraight.

Pasco held a press conference to introduce the newcrime-fighting canine to the community last week when Pasco CityManager Gary Crutchfield and police officers discussed the benefitsof the K-9 unit and the importance of community partnerships withcompanies like HAPO Community CU.

Dave Schulz, president/CEO of HAPO Community CU, also attendedthe press conference

Pasco City Manager Gary Crutchfield, who approached Schulz forthe $12,000 donation, decided with Pasco Police Chief Roger Metzgerit would be nice gesture to name the dog after the creditunion.

“We both decided that it would be a great idea to name the dogHapo because typically you want a one or two syllable name and itseemed to fit,” Crutchfield said.

Hapo, a 2-year-old German shepherd, born and trained in Germanyto sniff out criminals and drugs, also attended the June 26 pressconference for a photo opportunity, but the canine “requested notto answer any questions,” according to Pasco's press release.

After the press conference, a local newspaper reported: “Businesses have purchased thenaming rights of stadium and transit station, but a new police dogin Pasco is taking corporate names to a new level.”

“It was simple gratitude for the contribution,” Crutchfieldsaid. “It wasn't a naming rights contract like a stadium. It justdidn't cross my mind that someone might see this as a naming rightsthing, and then when it came out in the newspaper here, I said, “Ohno. That figures. No good deed goes unpunished.' ”

Nevertheless, the newspaper also clarified in its article thatthe city named the dog in gratitude to Hapo Community CU.

Like many small city governments that operate on tight budgets,the city of Pasco didn't have the funds to replace an aging K-9police dog.

“We have to make do with less, so HAPO Community CU's help meansa lot to us,” Crutchfield said.

As for Hapo, he's completing final training and is expected toreport for duty over the next few weeks to serve and to protect thecity of Pasco.