Cop gives loyal K-9 partner a forever home
Doug Barner worked with his K-9 partner for six years. Now with the dog’s retirement this year, he is taking him to his forever home.
Last month the Williamson County sheriff ’s deputy formally requested he take ownership of K-9 Harry, who is concluding his days of nabbing criminals and sniffing out contraband.
After taking custody of Dutch, a former police dog, Barner said it was natural for him and his family to open their doors to Harry, who he said has become a part of the family.
“He’s always in the car with you, and sometimes you catch yourself talking to him a lot,” Barner said.
Barner already had years of experience as a dog handler before partnering six years ago with Harry, a Belgian Malinois. Together, the two would capture fleeing suspects, track leads on missing persons and detect narcotics and drug currency moving through the county.
But Barner said it wasn’t necessarily love at first sight between the two. He recalled times when the two would complete training and Harry would “do his own thing.”
“He had a little bit of an attitude and was a little hardheaded,” Barner said.
Despite those clashes, the partners’ working relationship blossomed. Through trial and error, Barner said, they learned how to communicate nonverbally in achieving a common goal.
Most times, Barner said, the dog was crucial to solving a case. Barner remembered an incident in 2016 when they were after a suspect and Harry found him hiding “within a matter of seconds.”
Barner said it often came down to an ability to read each other’s nonverbal cues. When Barner moved his shoulders a certain way, Harry knew they were pursuing someone. If Barner raised his voice, Harry knew to focus on the direction of his voice.
“He could tell what I was doing just by watching my body movements or listening to my tone of voice,” Barner said. “I knew what he was doing by watching his head and ears and seeing how alert he is.”
With Harry retiring, Barner said he is taking a break from partnering with a K-9 and instead focusing on Harry’s needs now that he has arthritis.
“He is very protective of the family and completely switches off work mode when he’s at home,” Barner said. “He gets on his big fluffy dog bed and just lays in front of the fireplace and relaxes.”
Knowing Harry will enjoy retirement at Barner’s home is something that brings Sheriff Robert Chody great pleasure.
“I cannot think of a better person to have custody of K-9 Harry,” Chody said in a statement. “The Williamson County sheriff’s office wishes Harry the best on his retirement.”