Seven Graduate From FWC K-9 School
|
|
June 2, 2006
 |
FWC photo by Tim Lewis |
Scofflaws in three states had better watch out because there are
seven newly-trained natural resource canines and handlers ready to
hit the dirt.
The officers, who hail from fish and wildlife and natural resource
agencies in Florida, Delaware and Maryland finished more than 400
hours of training that began in February and were awarded their
certificates Friday morning on the steps of the Old Capitol Building
in Tallahassee.
Four of the handlers and their partners are from the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC); two are from Maryland
Natural Resources Police and one hails from Delaware Department of
Natural Resources.
Florida’s officers include:
Edward “Eddie” R. Brown and Grady, who are assigned to Hendry
County;
Bradley W. Clayton and Cain, assigned to Polk County;
Samuel D. Dishman and Bear, Levy County; and
William E. Giles and Parker, Columbia County.
Officer 1st Class Curt W. Dieterle and Blu, and Cpl. April C.
Sharpeta and Bear, are from Maryland; and Cpl. Casey L. Zolper and
Warden are from Delaware.
The officers were selected through a process within their own agency
to determine who would receive a dog. Training began in February.
The seven dogs, mostly black Labradors, were donated, with the
majority coming from animal shelters. One dog, Grady, was saved from
possible death. She was beaten with a shotgun and a shock collar was
used on her, Brown said. Now, the playful pup has been through the
rigors of training.
“I’ve been amazed about how far from Day 1 to now my dog has come,”
he said like a proud, new father would when speaking of his baby.
“She got a perfect score in tracking.”
Eventually, Brown wants to do public presentations, especially for
children.
“I want to show them what our dogs do,” he said. “I want to show
them not all police dogs are bite dogs.”
FWC instructor John Snow said the canines are trained to sniff out
illegally taken wildlife, such as dove, deer, turkey, lobster,
alligators and ducks. Depending on where the dogs live and work,
they were trained to detect specific wildlife.
They also can track humans and find evidence, such as guns, shell
casings, knives, handcuffs – anything a human has touched. Recently,
one of FWC’s canines located evidence in a double-homicide.
“Their main function is to track humans,” he said.
FWC now has 14 law enforcement canines.
“We have the most natural resource dogs in the world, as far as I
know,” Snow said.
Snow has made his presence known for natural resource canine
training. He has been employed by FWC since 1980 and had a
bloodhound he used before the agency had a K-9 program. He was one
of the first officers to become a handler for FWC – something he’s
done for 18 years – and he’s been an instructor for 15 years.
When Zolper, who with Warden is the first team for Delaware’s
Department of Natural Resources, began searching for an instruction
program, he was told one name.
“John Snow,” he said. “They all said John Snow and Florida is the
place you want to go.
“With the program he’s put together, pretty much all your resource
dogs have been trained by Florida or a state that’s been trained by
Florida.”
The two officers from Maryland agreed the training was rigorous.
Their dogs are the only two trained in wildlife detection from their
state. Dieterle said he learned many things while attending the
training, but one stood out in his mind.
“Trust your dog,” he said. “The dog knows the task.”
Sharpeta said the training and dogs are “really going to change the
way we work in Maryland. It’s a better way to get things done.”
She, along with the other officers, agreed the work and training was
difficult, but very rewarding. They all had to leave their families
and friends to train for two weeks with a week off and then back
again.
Snow said the officers and their partners will now go back to their
respective states, taking along a valuable tool.
“These dogs are an asset to protect natural resources,” he said.
“They are trained to do just that.”
|
| |
|
|
