DOWAGIAC — The most popular law enforcement member in southwest Michigan is likely Deputy K-9 Nellie, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office bloodhound. Every time she is around, people can barely contain themselves — even people who do not normally like dogs.

“The most heartwarming thing to me is when I drive down the road and it feels like a parade,” said Deputy Tiffany Graves, Nellie’s handler. “People recognize Nellie and they wave and yell Nellie’s name. You can hear it from everywhere.”

Starting at the beginning of July, it has become much easier to spot Nellie. She now rides in a black Chevrolet Tahoe with Cass County Sheriff decals on both sides.

“It has a K-9 insignia, and it’s our only black car,” Sheriff Rick Behnke said. “All of our other squad cars are white, but since we bought it used, we couldn’t be that picky.”

Prior to purchasing this vehicle, Nellie rode in a police sedan. The new vehicle is better suited for Nellie, said Behnke, because the larger vehicle provides more space and a healthier environment.

This is all thanks to a community project called “Keep Nellie Cool” started by Deb Rohdy, owner of Bow Wow Bakery and Bath in Dowagiac, which began in the fall of last year. The project’s initial goal was to raise $1,800 for a heat alarm to go in Graves’ vehicle. The purpose of the alarm is designed to prevent police K-9s from overheating. According to Behnke, seven police K-9s died from overheated vehicles last year, often because the K-9 was left in the vehicle and the air conditioner failed.

The alarm prevents dogs from overheating by warning their handler via a mobile notification when the vehicle heats up. The handler will get a notification if the inside of the vehicle reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit. At 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the alarm will alert multiple people by calling them and automatically roll down the vehicle’s windows.

Rohdy quickly raised $1,800. On the second day, she said she received a donation of $500 dollars. Once “Keep Nellie Cool” achieved its goal, Rohdy encouraged her customers to donate to other causes but people kept writing checks to for Nellie.

“I said, ‘well any money that exceeds the money we wanted to raise is going to go for her care and training and anything else that the budget didn’t cover,’” Rohdy said.

Soon, the fundraiser more than tripled its goal by raising nearly $6,000. After that local business also chipped in, including the Berrien County Kennel Club and Tom Starks of Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services.

“I like dogs and when the sheriff called me it really hit home,” Starks said. “I said what do you need? Let me cover the balance.”

In total, Behnke said the community donated $12,000. That led to the sheriff’s office selling Graves’ police sedan and using the extra money raised from “Keep Nellie Cool” to get the black Tahoe, which Behnke purchased from the Berrien Springs Police Department.

Now Nellie has a new vehicle to ride in, equipped with a heat alarm to keep her safe.

“I absolutely cannot believe the outpouring from the community and the surrounding community,” Graves said. “People gave small donations and big donations. … Kids gave their allowances. Money was coming from out of state. I was completely caught off guard and overwhelmed with emotion. When I heard about the [new vehicle] I think I actually cried.