NEW POLICE DOGS

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 13

NEW POLICE DOGS

Three fro|n Ashburton Three Alsatians bred by Mrs E. McNelly, of 11 Tucker Street, Ashburton, have shown unexpected aptitude as police dogs. The most successful is a two-year-old bitch, Angie, which recently passed out top dog- from the Trentham police dog training school. The other two have been placed in police dog duties in the North Island. They were offered to the police after their owners found it inconvenient to continue to keep them. Mrs McNelly. who has been breeding Alsatians for about five years, in no way specialises in producing dogs suited for police duties: two of her main concerns as a breeder are showing and canine obedience routines. The head of the police dog section at Christchurch, Sergeant G. Surgenor, said that until about 18 months ago police dogs were bred at the Trentham training school, but regulations had since been modified to allow the inclusion of suitable dogs from private kennels.

Mrs McNelly said that Angie showed such extreme alertness and intelligence as a young dog that she decided that police dog duties were the best way of using the dog's special aptitudes. This month the dog began duties under the direction of Constable G. Donald.

Angie recently showed that she had not forgotten her Ashburton friends when she paid a visit to Mrs McNelly at her home. The dog appeared delighted. But on the job she can be anything but playful. According to Servant Surgenor she has a big future with the police.