I think this dog is getting the short end of the tug. But thankfully they are trying to place him with someone that can handle him rather than put him down right away.

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/localnews/ci_4661510

Someone has dropped the ball here. That, or there is personal reasons for getting rid of the dog. The chiefs comment do not uphold his decision to get rid of him. He believes the dog is acceptable for search and rescue as well as airport security. If that is the case, why not still a patrol dog? Surely if he's capable of patrolling airports full of people he should be able to stay where he's at.
The medication the dog is on for lyme disease is also a suspected reason for the dogs' behaviour. Why blame the dog for his actions when the dept medicated him. Keep the dog away from non-bad guys while on the meds.
It's unfortunate that these two incidents occurred but its not uncommon. Cops, and civilians do stupid things around police dogs even after being warned. I had a dog that didn't like to be stared at as he took it as a challenge. An agressive move towards a PSD by a perp will also get them bit. Stuff happens. It sounds like the chief wants a therapy dog or a hand slut for the public.
Too bad.

Howard

I see it as a win-win situation, for the officers and the dog. Thankfully, the dog gets a second chance somewhere else, hopefully with a more compatible handler vs. being put down, for what could've been just human ignorance. And for the officers, I'm sure they learned a few things, and now they get a fresh start. If the people were at fault in provoking the dog, hopefully they know what not to do next time.

I think it's interesting that the dog is on medications for Lyme's disease. It has been postulated that Lyme's disease itself can cause unprovoked, unpredictable aggression in dogs. May not be the meds, may be the disease.

I agree with you.The dog bites a perp after he was told not to get near the dog.Where is that wrong on the dogs part?
As for lunging at an officer , I doubt he is the only dog that has ever done that
Who knows what's behind all that , there are better stories to tell than that one that's for sure.

I certainly don't know the circumstances of either bite situation, but I can't see why the Police Chief thinks this dog would make a good search and rescue dog. A dog that "has gone into an unprovoked aggressive mode in two separate incidents over the past year" (direct quote from the article) is absolutely NOT suitable for SAR. Imagine sending this dog to find a small lost child. Given its history, is it worth the risk?

A SAR dog must have a completely stable temperament. Period.

I agree,I can't see dog that is not suitable for patrol be suitable for SAR.That's why I think there has to be more to the story.

The story is a s usual in these circumstances a conglomeration of speculation, manipulation, and misunderstanding.

Reading between the lines....detector and tracking dog with thin nerves or a handler who is lost, or both.

I really dislike the fact that this is discussed in apublic format by people like the Chief, the town council, and not a instructor of police service dogs. It is like deciding on a surgical intervention but not consulting a surgeon and instead seekign the advise of your accountant and real estate broker.

Unfortunatly htis is all too common. So they get fed what information will work to persuade them into the right course of action or the desired course of action.

Lyme desease meds are generally oxytetracycline for 30 days.
Makes zero sense to blame the meds.
Just a way to get rid of the dog and not take the blame for a problem in his department that is under his watch. Or, a excuse he was handed by the handler to get past the real problems and he's blindly passing it along.
This sort of thing really disturbs me.
The dog is an animal. They are not perfect. To replace the dog for the good of the department, the handler, the community should be a simple process.
Evcery SWAT guy that steps through a door is carrying much more cost in equipment than the cost of a dog. If the equipemnt they carry is obsolete, broken, faulty, etc. NO ONE questions the need to supply them with improved and or proper safety equipment.
The cost of a dog is less than the cost of a new radar unit, not much more than a new transmission in a patrol unit, but when it comes to a dog we have to formulate a reason that will fly through the current administration, politicians, and the public even if it is only based on a grain of truth and a huge amount of BS.
If a department wants a K-9 program then they need to fund it in the same fashion they fund other critical programs.
It is way to common for the funding to be so tenative in a program that its existance revolves around the dog in question more than the need for a dog.
Do I sound like this topic hits a chord with me?? I hope so.
Dogs are well recognized in law enforcement in this country and most others. They are seen as important programs and funded and managed as if they were not throughout the country.
High expectations are given programs, often unrealistic expectations, and many projected not at the program as a whole but upon the stupid animals as if they knew what they were doing and all about. When the performance or a failure in responsiblility arrises the dog is blamed by handlers and administrators. Easy to do since the dog can't offer up its side of the story: like hey I'm not cut out for cop work, or hey i was just doing what I was taught, or I just don't get the message from the cop with the leash in hand as to what i must do for him/her.
How about a statement to the counsil that goes like this: "This particular dog has demonstrated that we are unable to bring it to the standard that we as a deparmtnt feel is appropriate for our community. With this assessment that it is neither a phandler issue or training issue we would like to replace this dog and begin the process of filling the void we will be left with in our law enforcment tool box. It is possible that another community with a different working environment, need or standard may find a use for this dog. If so we would return any money received to the general fund."
How hard is that unless some part is not true.

 Quote: Howard Knauf

The medication the dog is on for lyme disease is also a suspected reason for the dogs' behaviour. Why blame the dog for his actions when the dept medicated him. Keep the dog away from non-bad guys while on the meds.
Howard

Kevin,
That last quote was well thought out. My guess is you have used that one in the past. Whatever the reasons for getting rid of the dog, Mike Sanchez has the right mind set. If it has to be done,As long as its good for both the dog and handler (if its not a handler problem) Then move forward.

Howard