The American Pit Bull is an amazing dog, known for its strength, intelligence, and loyalty. Throughout America’s h...
Pit Bull Crime Fighters Prepared by Stephen Sanderson Email:
[email protected] Phone: 520-539-6730
Objective:
To develop a program within the local area where law enforcement agencies have an opportunity utilize rescue “Pit bulls” as law enforcement detection officers and breed ambassadors. Work with the Animal Farm Foundation or another non-profit organization to secure a grant for participating agencies. Take back the narrative of these dogs, which have been mislabeled by negative media reports.
Synopsis: The American Pit Bull is an amazing dog, known for its strength, intelligence, and loyalty. Throughout America’s history, numerous pit bulls earned the term “hero”. Whether it was on the battlefield of WW1 or on the big screen in Hollywood, this breed has captured the hearts of many around the world. In recent years, the pit bulls have been labeled by the media as aggressive and dangerous dogs. Gangs have utilized this breed as a status symbol, further degrading the appeal for ownership. Improper and over-breeding have flooded the market with this breed, resulting in overcrowding at animal shelters throughout the country. The following report details various case studies of pit bulls that have been utilized as service dogs. It will provide contact information to experts in the field who have developed programs and who are currently working with this breed for law enforcement purposes. Case study 1: Sergeant Stubby (1917 – 1926)
Stubby was an American Pit Bull who became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry, 26th Yankee Division during World War I. Stubby became a hero when the Division was attacked in an early morning gas launch. Stubby recognized the gas and ran through the trench barking and biting at the soldiers, rousing them to sound the gas alarm, saving many from injury. Stubby also had a talent for locating wounded men between the trenches of the opposing armies; he would listen for the sound of English and then go to the location, barking until paramedics arrived or leading the lost soldiers back to the safety of the trenches. Case Study 2: Officer Kiah (2015 – Present)
Kiah is a detection dog for the Poughkeepsie Police Department in New York, used to detect drugs and track missing people. She's also a goodwill ambassador, for her breed and for the police. Kiah began her work for the Poughkeepsie Police Department 1 year ago. Chief of Police, Thomas Pape, worked with the Animal Foundation and Universal K9 to identify and rescue a shelter dog for police use.
A Memorandum of agreement was signed between the Animal Farm and the police department, which allowed the department to receive grant money from Animal Farm. The Associated Press reports, “Kiah was given to the department at no cost thanks to a partnership between Croft's company, San Antoniobased Universal K9, an Austin animal shelter and Animal Farm Foundation, a nonprofit based in New York's Dutchess County that works to ensure "equal treatment and opportunity" for pit bulls.” Case Study 3: Officer Libby (2015 – Present)
For more photos of Libby in action, go to: https://www.facebook.com/LibbyMCCO/?fref=photo Just like Kiah, Libby was rescued from a Texas animal shelter. Her rescuers, Operation Pets Alive, recognized her potential as a working dog and brought her to Universal K9. In 2015, Libby became a K9 narcotics detection officer with the Montgomery County Police Department in Texas. In May, she participated in a major drug bust, sniffing out a cabinet that contained guns, drugs and other paraphernalia. “Her paycheck is basically a squeaky tennis ball,”
Libby’s partner, Deputy Jesse Bullinger, told KHOU. “She has a great personality. Everybody likes her.” Click on the KHOU link for video of Libby and her partner.
Case Study 4: Officer Shaka (2011 – 2015)
Shaka, an American Staffordshire terrier, was rescued from an overcrowded animal shelter’s death row and put into police service. After Shaka graduated from the Washington State Patrol K9 Drug Detection Academy, she became a drug detection dog with the Washougal Police Department in Washington State. When budget cuts eliminated the K9 program in 2011, Shaka joined the Milwaukie Police Department in Oregon and began working with her handler, Officer Billy Wells. According to the City of Milwaukie, “Shaka’s happy-go-lucky personality certainly dispels any bias people might have about her breed. She absolutely loves attention from anyone willing to pet her.”
webhttp://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/police/milwaukies-new-k-9-goesprime-timesite, In 2013, Shaka and Wells were honored for their service by the city’s public safety foundation. Shaka, retired in July 2015.
Contacts: 1. Chief Thomas Pape, Chief of Police, Poughkeepsie Police Department, New York. Phone Number: 845-451-4182
I talked with Chief Pape on Thursday, February 11, 2016. Chief Pape stated that he would assist me with information and provide testimony to their program. Anyone from the City Council, Mayors Office, Humane Society, and police department can call him anytime for information.
2. Animal Farm Foundation. http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/
They can assist with coordination and funding for training. They work with Brad Croft, Universal K9, to identify and train rescue pit bulls for police work. I talked with them on Thursday, February 11, 2016. They are very interested in assisting with this program.
3. Brad Croft, Universal K9 Inc. https://www.universalk9inc.com/
Brad Croft can be reached at 210-850-6830. I have attempted contact (February 11, 2016), but I have not heard back from Brad.
4. I plan to make contact with the city of Milwaukie, Oregon on Monday, February 15, 2016, for further information about their program. Conclusion: More traditional K9 breeds like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois can cost police departments $15,000 per dog. Pit Bulls can be given to
law enforcement agencies free of charge, on behalf of a partnership between the agency and non-profit groups, whose mission is “securing equal treatment and opportunity for ‘pit bull’ dogs.” Many trainers and dog experts believe there is little connection between a dog’s breed and their ability to excel at police work. They believe a dog’s drive, energy and eagerness to please are more important factors. Kiah’s partner and handler, Officer Justin Bruzgul, told the Associated Press that, “She (kiah) wants to work.” “She’s high-energy. Affectionate. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.” Along with her crimefighting duties, Kiah will also serve as a goodwill ambassador for pit bulls. Stacey Coleman, executive director of the Animal Farm Foundation, told WABC-TV, “It’s about leveling the playing field, it’s about proving once and for all that the dogs labeled ‘pit bull’ can do all the things that the dogs not labeled ‘pit bull’ can do,” I would like to present this type of program to the City of Omaha. Various police departments around the country are rescuing pit bulls from shelters and training them as police dogs. Not only would this be a cost savings to the city, but it will help re-identify this smart, hard working, lovable breed, as well as get some of them out of the shelter. Videos: 1. Kiah - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zMBM_WOr0w 2. Libby http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2015/05/09/rescu ed-from-certain-death-deputy-libby-now-sniffing-outcriminals/27011477/ 3. Shaka - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q29tNvzkOEg Sources: 1. http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp? ID=15 2. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2ddc7e4b54064a45931ec001f23045 c8/pit-bull-police-dog-defies-breeds-savagestereotypes#http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2ddc7e4b54064a4593 1ec001f23045c8/pit-bull-police-dog-defies-breeds-savagestereotypes
3. https://www.facebook.com/LibbyMCCO/?fref=photo 4. http://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/felony-drug-bust/ 5. http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2015/05/09/rescu ed-from-certain-death-deputy-libby-now-sniffing-outcriminals/27011477/ 6. http://www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2013/07/milwauki e_police_k-9_teams_to.html 7. http://www.pamplinmedia.com/cr/28-opinion/267808-141889thanks-for-helping-make-milwaukies-9k-for-k9-walk-a-success 8. http://abc7ny.com/news/pit-bull-to-fight-crime-inpoughkeepsie-/1083088/
