Pit Bull Crime Fighters

Prepared by
Stephen Sanderson
Email: iguanaafm@gmail.com
Phone: 520-539-6730

Objective:

To develop a program within the local area where law

enforcement agencies have an opportunity utilize rescue Pit
bulls as law enforcement detection officers and breed
ambassadors.
Work with the Animal Farm Foundation or another non-profit
organization to secure a grant for participating agencies.
Take back the narrative of these dogs, which have been
mislabeled by negative media reports.

Synopsis:
The American Pit Bull is an amazing dog, known for its strength,
intelligence, and loyalty. Throughout Americas history, numerous pit
bulls earned the term hero. Whether it was on the battlefield of WW1
or on the big screen in Hollywood, this breed has captured the hearts
of many around the world.
In recent years, the pit bulls have been labeled by the media as
aggressive and dangerous dogs. Gangs have utilized this breed as a
status symbol, further degrading the appeal for ownership. Improper
and over-breeding have flooded the market with this breed, resulting in
overcrowding at animal shelters throughout the country.
The following report details various case studies of pit bulls that have
been utilized as service dogs. It will provide contact information to
experts in the field who have developed programs and who are
currently working with this breed for law enforcement purposes.
Case study 1: Sergeant Stubby (1917 1926)

Stubby was an American Pit Bull who became the mascot of the 102nd
Infantry, 26th Yankee Division during World War I. Stubby became a
hero when the Division was attacked in an early morning gas launch.
Stubby recognized the gas and ran through the trench barking and
biting at the soldiers, rousing them to sound the gas alarm, saving
many from injury.
Stubby also had a talent for locating wounded men between the
trenches of the opposing armies; he would listen for the sound of
English and then go to the location, barking until paramedics arrived or
leading the lost soldiers back to the safety of the trenches.
Case Study 2: Officer Kiah (2015 Present)

Kiah is a detection dog for the Poughkeepsie Police Department in New

York, used to detect drugs and track missing people. She's also a
goodwill ambassador, for her breed and for the police.
Kiah began her work for the Poughkeepsie Police Department 1 year
ago. Chief of Police, Thomas Pape, worked with the Animal Foundation
and Universal K9 to identify and rescue a shelter dog for police use.

A Memorandum of agreement was signed between the Animal Farm

and the police department, which allowed the department to receive
grant money from Animal Farm.
The Associated Press reports, Kiah was given to the department at no
cost thanks to a partnership between Croft's company, San Antoniobased Universal K9, an Austin animal shelter and Animal Farm
Foundation, a nonprofit based in New York's Dutchess County that
works to ensure "equal treatment and opportunity" for pit bulls.
Case Study 3: Officer Libby (2015 Present)

For more photos of Libby in action, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/LibbyMCCO/?fref=photo
Just like Kiah, Libby was rescued from a Texas animal shelter. Her
rescuers, Operation Pets Alive, recognized her potential as a working
dog and brought her to Universal K9. In 2015, Libby became a K9
narcotics detection officer with the Montgomery County Police
Department in Texas. In May, she participated in a major drug bust,
sniffing out a cabinet that contained guns, drugs and other
paraphernalia. Her paycheck is basically a squeaky tennis ball,

Libbys partner, Deputy Jesse Bullinger, told KHOU. She has a great
personality. Everybody likes her. Click on the KHOU link for video of
Libby and her partner.

Case Study 4: Officer Shaka (2011 2015)

Shaka, an American Staffordshire terrier, was rescued from an

overcrowded animal shelters death row and put into police service.
After Shaka graduated from the Washington State Patrol K9 Drug
Detection Academy, she became a drug detection dog with
the Washougal Police Department in Washington State. When budget
cuts eliminated the K9 program in 2011, Shaka joined the Milwaukie
Police Department in Oregon and began working with her handler,
Officer Billy Wells.
According to the City of Milwaukie, Shakas happy-go-lucky
personality certainly dispels any bias people might have about her
breed. She absolutely loves attention from anyone willing to pet her.

webhttp://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/police/milwaukies-new-k-9-goesprime-timesite,
In 2013, Shaka and Wells were honored for their service by the citys
public safety foundation. Shaka, retired in July 2015.

Contacts:
1. Chief Thomas Pape, Chief of Police, Poughkeepsie Police
Department, New York. Phone Number: 845-451-4182

I talked with Chief Pape on Thursday, February 11, 2016.

Chief Pape stated that he would assist me with information and
provide testimony to their program. Anyone from the City
Council, Mayors Office, Humane Society, and police department
can call him anytime for information.

2. Animal Farm Foundation.

http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/

They can assist with coordination and funding for training. They
work with Brad Croft, Universal K9, to identify and train rescue
pit bulls for police work.
I talked with them on Thursday, February 11, 2016.
They are very interested in assisting with this program.

3. Brad Croft, Universal K9 Inc. https://www.universalk9inc.com/

Brad Croft can be reached at 210-850-6830.

I have attempted contact (February 11, 2016), but I have not
heard back from Brad.

4. I plan to make contact with the city of Milwaukie, Oregon on

Monday, February 15, 2016, for further information about their
program.
Conclusion:
More traditional K9 breeds like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois
can cost police departments $15,000 per dog. Pit Bulls can be given to

law enforcement agencies free of charge, on behalf of a partnership

between the agency and non-profit groups, whose mission is securing
equal treatment and opportunity for pit bull dogs.
Many trainers and dog experts believe there is little connection
between a dogs breed and their ability to excel at police work. They
believe a dogs drive, energy and eagerness to please are more
important factors.
Kiahs partner and handler, Officer Justin Bruzgul, told the Associated
Press that, She (kiah) wants to work. Shes high-energy.
Affectionate. I couldnt ask for a better partner. Along with her crimefighting duties, Kiah will also serve as a goodwill ambassador for pit
bulls.
Stacey Coleman, executive director of the Animal Farm Foundation,
told WABC-TV,
Its about leveling the playing field, its about proving once and for all
that the dogs labeled pit bull can do all the things that the dogs not
labeled pit bull can do,
I would like to present this type of program to the City of Omaha.
Various police departments around the country are rescuing pit bulls
from shelters and training them as police dogs. Not only would this be
a cost savings to the city, but it will help re-identify this smart, hard
working, lovable breed, as well as get some of them out of the shelter.
Videos:
1. Kiah - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zMBM_WOr0w
2. Libby http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2015/05/09/rescu
ed-from-certain-death-deputy-libby-now-sniffing-outcriminals/27011477/
3. Shaka - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q29tNvzkOEg
Sources:
1. http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?
ID=15
2. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2ddc7e4b54064a45931ec001f23045
c8/pit-bull-police-dog-defies-breeds-savagestereotypes#http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2ddc7e4b54064a4593
1ec001f23045c8/pit-bull-police-dog-defies-breeds-savagestereotypes

3. https://www.facebook.com/LibbyMCCO/?fref=photo
4. http://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/felony-drug-bust/
5. http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2015/05/09/rescu
ed-from-certain-death-deputy-libby-now-sniffing-outcriminals/27011477/
6. http://www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2013/07/milwauki
e_police_k-9_teams_to.html
7. http://www.pamplinmedia.com/cr/28-opinion/267808-141889thanks-for-helping-make-milwaukies-9k-for-k9-walk-a-success
8. http://abc7ny.com/news/pit-bull-to-fight-crime-inpoughkeepsie-/1083088/