A police dog trained to sniff out drugs in Mississippi was handed the pink slip after he played one too many times with aluminum cans while he was supposed to be working.
The Daily Mail reported that police in Gulfport won the right to sell back the unruly dog, a Belgian Malinois names Fred, to the training facility that supposedly trained him. Just two years ago, the city paid nearly $13,000 for Fred and for his training at K-9 Unlimited in Kaplan, La.
But his training was subpar.
Chief Leonardo Papania said in The Sun Herald that Fred frequently gets distracted, and that on several occasions, he’s been caught kicking around a soda can while he’s supposed to be sniffing out illegal drugs.
“Your K- handlers do have a bond with these animals,” Mr. Papania said, in The Daily Mail, explaining the pooch would be missed. “They spend a lot of time with them. These animals are kept in their homes. You do have that working bond. But they also are aware of the ultimate responsibility we have with these animals.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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