Good doggie!
Bear, the department’s first-ever K9, nominated for the American Humane Hero Dog Award; moves on to the first round of voting
It didn’t take long, but Bear, the Uxbridge Police Department’s first-ever K9, has been nominated for the American Humane Hero Dog Award.
UXBRIDGE — Bear, the Uxbridge Police Department’s firstever K9, has been nominated for the American Humane Hero Dog Award and selected to move on to the first round of voting.
The American Humane Hero Dog Awards are an annual, nationwide competition that searches out and recognizes America’s Hero Dogs – often ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether it’s saving lives on the battlefield or lending sight or hearing to a human companion.
Dogs compete in seven different categories, including law enforcement/arson dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, guide/hearing dogs, and emerging hero dogs (the category for “ordinary” dogs that do extraordinary things).
Voting to determine the top three dogs in each category of the 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Awards is now open at www.herodogawards.org.
Voters can vote once in each category, each day until the first round ends on May 3, for a total of seven votes each day. The top three dogs in each category will be announced on May 16.
After voting by the American public, winners in each category are flown to Hollywood with their human friends to attend the American Humane Hero Dog Awards gala in Los Angeles where they will walk the red carpet, receive their Hero Dog category award statue and mingle with celebrities.
K9 Bear joined the ranks of the Uxbridge Police Department in 2015. Bear is the first Police K9 in the department’s history. After graduating from the prestigious Boston Police K9 Academy, Bear hit the streets.
During one of Bear’s first shifts he was called to locate and apprehend an intoxicated domestic violence suspect. Bear quickly tracked down and located the suspect, who surrendered without incident. Police later found out that the suspect had a long criminal history, including assaults on law enforcement.
About a week later, K9 Bear was scheduled to be officially sworn in as an officer. Shortly before the ceremony, Bear and his handler were called to assist in a vehicle pursuit on the highway. The vehicle being pursued crashed into the K9 cruiser at highway speed and totaled it. Fortunately, both Bear and his handler were able to walk away without injury.
In the last year, K9 Bear has tracked down suspects, found lost citizens, located evidence, detected narcotics, and performed in countless K9 demonstrations.
“In the beginning, we said that if Bear saves one life, the new K9 program would be a success,” said Police Chief Jeffrey A. Lourie. “In just one year K9 Bear has far exceeded our expectations. K9 Bear has truly become a hero dog to our community.”
From Sept. 14 to Dec. 24, 2015, Bear and his handler, Officer Thomas B. Stockwell, Jr., went through 600 hours of training at the academy in Jamaica Plain. Led by head instructor Troy Caisey, the duo became certified in several disciplines, including tracking, area searches, muzzle training, building searches, aggression training, article searches and obedience.
Bear much of his time prior to the academy bonding with Stockwell. Bear was essentially on probation pending completion of the canine handler’s course at the academy, which he ended up passing with flying colors.
Funding for Uxbridge’s first-ever K9 program came from a $25,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation, a statewide private organization known for its work developing programs so police departments can utilize trained dogs.
Bear’s bullet/stab protective vest and K9 first aid kit were provided by Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, an independent, all-volunteer, non-profit organization that provides bulletproof K9 vests, essential equipment, training, and dogs for police and law enforcement programs throughout Massachusetts.