
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 8, 1990                   TAG: 9006080815
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANITOWOC, WIS.                                LENGTH: Short

RETIRED POLICE DOG SAVES TOT

A retired police dog that had helped save six people and arrest more than 100 people returned his nose to service long enough to help find a missing blind and deaf 3-year-old.

"It brought tears to my eyes to get that kid last night," said deputy sheriff Michael Bushman of Manitowoc County. "I truly believe that, had that child been out overnight, she would have succumbed to exposure."

Angela Bolle, who has Down's syndrome, wandered away from her family's yard while playing with friends Wednesday evening.

About 100 deputies and volunteers were unsuccessful in searching nearby woods with two other dogs.

As daylight faded, searchers summoned Duke, an 8-year-old German shepherd who retired two years ago because of waning stamina.

After sniffing for 40 minutes, he caught the girl's scent and found her lying face down and crying in a hay field 600 feet from the house, Bushman said.

"The dog caught wind of her about 100 feet away. I didn't see her until I was standing over the top of her," he said. "He went right in and started licking her face. His tail was wagging about a mile a minute.

"He likes kids a lot."

by CNB