Highly trained dogs, often referred to as Police Service Dogs (PSD), are used in support of local law enforcement, working side-by-side with police officers in fighting crime. Dogs have one of the most acute senses for smell of any animal. These dogs can be trained for specialized duties or multi-purpose tasks. Their size, speed and natural canine senses give these four-legged animals the ability to carry out jobs that their human teammates cannot.
Amigo, the first dog to enter the Bucyrus Police Department’s K-9 Unit, began his service to the Bucyrus community in early 2008. He was trained as a dual purpose PSD, giving him the ability to provide services throughout Crawford County because the Bucyrus Police Department makes the K-9 Unit available to any law enforcement agency in the county.
“It has been a wonderful experience working with Amigo,” said Bucyrus Police Office Neil Assenheimer, who was selected to train and work with Amigo. “It has been a wonderful experience working with him. I have come to appreciate Amigo’s extraordinary capabilities in narcotic detection, arrest assistance and other areas in which he was trained.”
“Since joining the Bucyrus Police Department in 2008, Amigo has always been at my side. We are both on call 24/7, so our service goes well beyond the normal work week,” Assenheimer said. “Through my training in working with police dogs and observing Amigo’s instincts, I have gained a deeper understanding for his capabilities in assisting law enforcement officials as we fulfill our duties. Without Amigo, the Bucyrus Police Department could not have been nearly as effective as we are now.”
Amigo’s Days as PSD are Waning
The tenure of a PSD varies, depending on the breed and working conditions. A tracking dog, which will cover countless miles, will show stress over time in a different way than a dog used for search and rescue or the detection of contraband. Quite often, dogs are required to work uneven terrain, broken down buildings left in rubble or surfaces that challenge the dog’s footing. Larger dogs may see fewer years of service, particularly if their skeletal system is prone to stress with age.
“We are keenly aware of a dog’s service tenure,” Bucyrus Chief of Police Ken Teets said. “Amigo undergoes regular veterinarian examinations to be certain of his service capabilities. He continues to exhibit strong working instincts. However, Amigo’s retirement is fast approaching. In order to provide the ongoing support that a PSD provides, we are planning ahead for Amigo’s eventual replacement.”
“We are grateful for the funds that were made available through a grant from the Bucyrus Area Community Foundation and donations from the Crawford County Kennel Club to establish the Police Department’s K-9 Unit in 2008,” Teets said.
“With the city coffers in dire straits, we are hard pressed to continue the department’s K-9 Unit. Through our ongoing public relations efforts, we have shared our dilemma with service organizations throughout the community. We are very pleased to have the Bucyrus Rotary Club, along with the Bucyrus Area Community Foundation, provide fund raising assistance to acquire the vitally needed funds to have Amigo’s replacement ready when he retires.”
