Blue pumpkins honoring Lieutenant Craig Lehner, K9 Shield on sale this weekend

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Blue pumpkins are once again on sale this weekend to honor Lieutenant Craig Lehner and his K9 partner, Shield.

This year marks the eighth year Allison Milligan and her family have put the event together. Milligan’s husband served in the military with Lehner, who died after disappearing in the Niagara River during a police training exercise in 2017.

You can pick out your pumpkins for a donation to the Buffalo Police Department's K9 unit at a home in South Buffalo located at 118 W. Woodside Ave. on the following dates and times:

• Friday, Oct. 11: 5 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 13: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 14: 10 a.m. until sold out

"It's also became a huge support for law enforcement," Milligan said. "As everybody does support law enforcement and want to honor him, I hear a ton of stories like, 'Oh my son's a police officer,' and stuff like that. So a lot of people like to come out, get their pumpkin, place it on their porch, show support for law enforcement, and in memory of Craig."

All proceeds from the weekend sale go to the K9 Unit because it was close to Lehner’s heart.

“The unit takes the money and buys supplies that they need for the dog, like bulletproof vests,” Milligan said last year. “One year, we helped raise the money to purchase another dog. So the money is put to a great cause, great use. And Craig was apart of the K9 unit, so we feel to donate the money to them in his memory.”

Milligan and her family paint all of the pumpkins by hand, with many being blue to show support for police, but there are many others of all shapes, sizes and designs.

This year, there are now pumpkins honoring Shield, who was Lehner's K9 until his passing. Shield died earlier this year.

The pumpkins don’t have a price. People are just asked to make a donation when they pick one up.

Along with the pumpkins, there are more than 100 basket raffle items, crafts for purchase, and a 50/50 drawing. Dog treats and baked goods will also be up for sale.

Over the years, Milligan has helped raised more than $50,000 for Lehner’s family and the K9 unit.

Many of the pumpkins come from Harris Farm in Gasport. Other small businesses donate money to buy additional pumpkins and the spray paint to decorate them.