Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog » Working Dogs

Dog Lost In Desert For A Year Found

Horst Hoefinger — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:56:04 +0000

I received a few woofs about this happy story. A bomb training Australian Labrador, Sabi, went missing a year ago in the Afghan desert during the heat of battle. A few days ago she was found by an American serviceman and now Sabi is back home on an Australian base at Tarin Kowt.

Here are the details from The Sydney Morning Herald.

The plucky canine had been missing in action for more than a year and all hope appeared lost, given that she had disappeared into the desert landscape of Afghanistan’s south.

She went missing during a battle that led to Australian SAS soldier Trooper Mark Donaldson securing a Victoria Cross for holding out Taliban insurgents.

Nine soldiers were wounded during the encounter, and the party got separated from the dog during the fight.

Sabi was picked up and incarcerated by enemy combatants before her rescue by the US soldier, identified as John.

Back on the base yesterday, Sabi appeared composed and relaxed, posing for cameras and meeting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US General Stanley McChrystal.

It’s reported that Sabi is doing fine, no signs of stress. Welcome home Sabi!

*Photo ADF

Police Dog Bites Wrong Man

Horst Hoefinger — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:21:08 +0000

In Eugene, OR a man was fighting off an intruder to defend his family when the police showed up, complete with K9.

Unfortunately, the police dog mistook the homeowner for the intruder and bit him. He bit him hard enough to send him to the hospital overnight.

Here are the details from The Daily News.

The 39-year-old father of three told the Eugene newspaper the dog bit through his left calf before clamping down on his thigh and then his left buttock.

The intruder, meanwhile, escaped and Crossan says he is upset that police have not offered him an apology for the bites that landed him in the hospital overnight earlier this week.

While the police chief called the incident ‘unfortuante’ and Kerns actions ‘heroic’ no apology has been offered to him. Obviously this was a mistake, but you would think the police department would offer Kerns an apology. Then again, that would be admitting guilt which could spur a lawsuit.

*There was no pic with the story, this is Dogster member Callisto.

From Rescue Dog To Police Dog

Horst Hoefinger — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:18:46 +0000

A 16-month-old black Labrador was rescued from a shelter by the local police department. Instead of going to an expensive breeder the Chicago Police Department decided to give a rescue dog a chance at life and a new career.

The dog, Pantera, is now working in the organized crime division. Here are the details from the Chicago Tribune.

Officer Steve Martinez visited the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League at least four times before picking Pantera based on the dog’s “high degree of maturity and strong drive.” After extensive training in various drug detection techniques, Pantera became an official police dog, the youngest certified narcotics detection canine in city history.

Since joining the force, Pantera has recovered evidence and assisted in search warrant executions with the narcotics section, the department said.

This is such good news, and shows what great dogs you can adopt from the shelter. The Animal Welfare League, where Pantera had been dropped off, hopes the police department continues to adopt from shelters. I hope so too, it sets a great example and maybe departments around the country will follow suit.

‘Judge’ Sets Record, Six Arrests In One Night

Horst Hoefinger — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:08:37 +0000

This Judge has four legs, he’s a police dog with the Winnipeg police force. On September 26th Judge and his human partner, Constable Scott Taylor, had a night that most in the force can only dream of. They had an unprecedented six arrests in one evening!

Here are the details from the Winnipeg Free Press.

Shortly before midnight on Sept. 26, Const. Scott Taylor and police dog Judge, who have worked together since 2004, tracked down and arrested two suspects in a strong-arm robbery in the North End, and recovered the victim’s property.

But Taylor and Judge were just getting started.

The pair then tracked down a suspect in a domestic assault.

Later that night, suspects abandoned a stolen vehicle in The Maples and fled on foot, only to be collared by Tayor and Judge.

Finally, at 6 a.m. on Sept. 27, a man suspected of beating up another man who suffered serious injuries. The suspect took off, but Judge and Taylor found him in a nearby yard and made the arrest.

The Winnipeg Police Service has 15 dogs and 10 handlers, normally there are three to five arrests per month in the canine unit. Wow, way to go Judge, you are a true dog hero.

* Photo courtesy Winnipeg Police Force/Winnipeg Free Press

A Dog’s Incredible Sense Of Smell

Horst Hoefinger — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:14:30 +0000

I always knew dogs had an incredible sense of smell, but did you know they can smell 100,000 times better than humans? Or that dogs can smell things up to 40 feet underground?

There’s an article from the Animal Health Care Center newsletter about a dog’s sense of smell, it contains some very informative information.

Here are six interesting facts, how many did you know?

1. The USDA uses Jack Russell Terriers to detect brown tree snakes hidden on cargo being loaded on planes in Guam.

2. The US Customs and Border Protection has 800 canine teams which look for explosives, drugs, concealed people, and even hidden currency.

3. Dogs check international travelers at borders and airports for agricultural contraband and find 75,000 items a year.

4. Dogs check packages mailed and delivered to agricultural areas for pests and their diseases which could devastate the ag industry in that area.

5. Dogs work in IRS centers to look for explosives in letters and packages.

6. Dogs are used by some exterminators to detect termite infestations.

The article goes on to talk about why dogs have such an excellent sense of smell, one of the reasons has to do with the moist leathery surface of the nose, which determines the direction of air currents.

Go check out the newsletter to learn more about dogs and why they can smell human fingerprints that are a week old.

* The CooperPooper nose knows.

Another Breed, Just What We Need

Horst Hoefinger — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:41:55 +0000

Every day, day after day, I report on the millions of unwanted dogs that are put down in this country. Today I read about a new breed, a cross between a Belgian Malinois and a Siberian Husky to be called a Huskinois.

Whether you agree with buying a purebred or not, nothing is ever going to change because there will always be people who want to purchase a certain breed. I get that, and hopefully the dog is purchased from a reputable breeder.

What I have issue with is that there are breeders looking to come up with new breeds. Do we really need another breed? Aren’t there enough to choose from? What about all the purebreds that are now showing up in shelters, is the Huskinois going to eventually end up in the same place?

Here are the details from The Press Association.

Mr Debenham, who co-owns DK9 Security Services in Ipswich, Suffolk, with his father Anthony, said the puppy was born late on Sunday last week. “People have been trying to breed the two dogs for years but for some reason they would not breed and the pups died hours after they were born,” said Mr Debenham.

“We believe this is the only one in the world and we hope now we can create a bigger and better breed. We wanted to breed the two because the Belgian Malinois is a very fast and active dog and they can get to great speeds. They also have a high prey drive, but they do tend to over-heat and get tired very quickly.

Mr Debenham – who sells dogs all over the world to police forces, the military and to celebrities – said that colleagues from the US and Canada “could not believe it” when they heard about the birth and are coming to see the puppy in the next few weeks.

Mr. Debenham talks about the new breed being great security dogs, don’t we have enough dogs that already fit the bill? Maybe it’s just me, but I simply don’t understand coming up with more breeds when there are already puppies being born simply to be killed.

Give me a bark, what do you think?

* Pic courtesy The Press Association

Taking The Plunge

Lisa Hoefinger — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:25:50 +0000

Fasco, a military police dog, is taking the plunge with his handler Sgt. Chris Lalonde and a trained skydiver. According to the Metro.co.uk the hound plummeted 3,800m (12,500ft) during the descent, reaching speeds of 193kph (120mph). Sgt. Lalonde said Fasco enjoys every minute.

This was the pup’s second jump, his handler claims he enjoys it, although if you’re attached to someone about to jump out of a plane I don’t see as you have much choice but to go with them.

*Photo courtesy Metro.co.uk

Police Dog Recovering After Shootout

Horst Hoefinger — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:30:27 +0000

The police department in Zanesville, Ohio continue to get donations pouring in for the care of their police dog Bosco who was shot and left paralyzed. On August 23rd Bosco and his partner Officer Mike Schiele were attempting to serve two warrants on Dominick Conley, in the process both were shot and wounded.

Schiele is now recovering at home but Bosco who took two shots, one to the neck the other in the chest, is at the Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital in Columbus. Bosco is fighting to regain the use of his legs, he’s making daily strides. He just started standing on his front legs for a bit and is working on trying to stand on his back legs.

Here’s a report on his recovery from Channel 10.

If you can’t see the video click here.

Here are more details from the Zanesville Times Reporter.

While Bosco continues to fight through the damage caused by the bullets still lodged in him, his medical bills continue to climb.

Chief Eric Lambes said the first week of care will probably cost $6,000 to $10,000 and Bosco is expected to remain at the hospital for several weeks.

Since the K-9 unit is funded completely by public donations, Lambes and his assistant, Linda Highfield, have been overwhelmed by the response they have gotten.

Highfield has received hundreds of cards and letters daily, most with checks for Bosco’s care.

The company, MedFlight of Ohio, who got Bosco to the hospital the night he was shot has forgiven 90 percent of the bill, which otherwise could have been over $12,000. What a wonderful thing to do, kudos to MedFlight for their generosity.

On September 17th the police department and the FOP Zane Lodge 5 will be holding a fundraising dinner. It will take place at the North Terrace Church of Christ, from 4 to 8 p.m., the price of admission is a donation.

* Pic of Bosco courtesy Zanesville Times Recorder

Barking Mad

Horst Hoefinger — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:03:03 +0000

In keeping with our police dog theme of the day, here’s a story with a twist. A man got himself arrested for barking at a police dog in Three Rivers, Michigan.

Here are the details from WLKM.

The Three Rivers Police Department said officers responded Monday evening to an apartment complex to investigate a suspicious situation.

Police said Wednesday in a statement a 26-year-old man in the area “began to torment” a police dog inside the patrol car by barking and shouting at it, causing the animal to become excited and “very aggressive.”

The man was arrested and later released on bond. He faces a charge of disorderly conduct.

I’m thinking perhaps some drugs or alcohol may have been involved in this incident. Just a guess.

* Pic of Malcom in training.

The Worst Police Dog Ever ?

Horst Hoefinger — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:14:21 +0000

Since we’re on the topic of police dogs, here is a very funny of one who seems to be having an off day.

If you can’t see the video click here.