After near - fatal fall, K-9 to compete on TV

Police K-9 Mattis and his handler appear tonight on ‘America’s Top Dog.’

If you like underdogs and have some spare TV time today, you could root for the home team at 9 p.m.

Police K-9 Mattis and his handler Sgt. Mark Tappan will be featured on this week’s episode of A&E’s new competition show “America’s Top Dog,” the department recently said on Facebook.

Mattis was injured in 2016 after bounding over a 30-foot retention wall while running down a suspect.

The pooch is named after former United States Secretary of Defense Jim “Mad Dog” Mattis, who is a Marine like Tappan. Tappan has been with the department since July 5, 2006 and is now the leader of their K-9 team.

A&E said on its website that the one-hour episodes feature four police K-9 teams and at least one civilian team competing in three rounds. The show is hosted by sports broadcaster Curt Menefee, K-9 school owner and former Secret Service member Nick White and sideline reporter Jamie Little. Each week’s winning team gets $10,000 and an additional $5,000 to donate to the animal charity of their choice. In the final week, top competitors come back to the finale course to earn the title of “America’s Top Dog” and an extra $25,000.

Mattis and Tappan’s Instagram page has earned more than 43,000 followers and is mostly written in the voice of Mattis, referring to Tappan as SBA, or “Short Bald Alpha.”

For those who want the full viewing experience, starting at 8 p.m. Mattis and Tappan will be having a watch party at the Milton location of Mazzy’s Sports Tavern, 13695 Highway 9 N., suite No. 106.

ALPHARETTA DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY Police Sgt. Mark Tappan and K-9 Mattis will compete on A&E’s “America’s Top Dog,” which airs tonight at 9. You can watch with the crime-fighting duo at Mazzy’s Sports Tavern.