ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997              TAG: 9701100008
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER 

BITE ENDS CAREER OF WOULD-BE POLICE DOG

Plans for a canine unit for the Pulaski Police Department are on hold, following an incident in which an 11-year-old boy was bitten by the dog being trained for police work.

The incident happened New Year's Day at the home of Officer M.D. Dowdy, who was working with the German shepherd. Dowdy was not at home and someone else had allowed the dog out of its pen when a boy approaching the house, to watch a video with some children already there, was bitten on the calf. The bite required 11 stitches.

The dog, named Soldat (German for soldier), is no longer being considered for police use in Pulaski, and is now at a kennel in Bland County.

"Any future plans to establish a canine unit will be presented to the appropriate committee of council for consideration before any formal action is taken," Police Chief Herb Cooley said in a written report to Town Manager Tom Combiths. "I still feel that a canine unit is an essential element of an effective drug enforcement program and should not be ruled out for future consideration."

But Mayor Andy Graham said Tuesday that the town should probably not acquire its own dog. Instead, he said, it should use dogs provided by the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and state police for drug searches and seizures.

"What you're suggesting is what we've already been doing," Councilman John Johnston told Graham.

Graham asked the town staff to see what costs are associated with using dogs from other law enforcement agencies.

LENGTH: Short :   38 lines