Kids can guess the names of new city police dogs
With its two active police service dogs scheduled to retire in December, the Peterborough Police Service has launched a contest giving local kindergarten students a chance to guess the name of their replacements currently in training.
German shepherds Wolfe and Hal, brothers imported from Kentucky, will be replaced by two approximately 15-month-old German shepherd/Malanois mixes set to begin duty in early 2019, the service announced Thursday.
Eight-year-old Wolfe, who was purchased and donated by the Knights of Columbus, has worked alongside partner Const. Tim Fish for the past seven years.
Seven-year-old Hal, who was purchased by the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough, has worked with partner Const. Sam McCullum for the past six years.
The teams have been a tremendous asset to the service, operations Insp. Neil Collins stated.
“In 2017, the canine unit attended 809 calls for service, conducted 17 drug searches, 17 building searches and 19 tracks,” he stated in a press release.
“Their expertise included narcotic detection, tracking, agility, article searches, building searches, open searches, chase and apprehensions, and handler protection.”
Two new canine officers, constables Kyle Adey and Bob Cowie,
are currently on a 15-week training course with their dogs in Niagara.
After the initial course, the teams will undergo regular maintenance training monthly, followed by a week-long recertification course every six months, officials stated.
Adey’s dog was purchased by city police while Cowie’s was bought thanks to a donation from a local sponsor.
The service is giving junior and senior kindergartens a chance to guess the name of Adey’s dog – the winner will get a meet-and-greet at their school with the partners. The contest runs from Monday to next Friday.
An announcement about Cowie’s dog will be made in the coming weeks by the sponsor whose donation allowed for the purchase, officials stated.
Four police service dogs have served and retired from the service since the formation of the canine unit in 1997.
“We thank PC Fish and Wolfe along with PC McCullum and
Hal for their dedication to the unit and for their service. We wish both Wolfe and Hal a happy, healthy and very well-deserved retirement,” Collins stated.
“We look forward to working with our new police service dogs and continuing the tradition of excellence with our canine unit.”