February 4, 2009

Animal Lover Raises Funds for New LM Police Dog

by Richard Ilgenfritz (Main Line Times)

Gathered at a recent check-passing to benefit the purchase and training of a new police dog are (from left) Sgt. Sharon Luciane, Supt. Mike McGrath, Capt. Bill Boegly, Cory Wasson with Boso and Buzz Miller. -- Photo By Pete Bannan. A local businessman last week presented a check to the Lower Merion Police Department that will go toward the purchase and training of a new police dog later this year.

Last week Buzz Miller, owner of Buzzy’s Bow Wow Meow in Penn Valley, presented a check to the department for the replacement of a police dog who retired last year. Once the new dog is purchased and trained, Lower Merion will again have a full complement of four police dogs.

Lower Merion Police Supt. Michael McGrath said Miller has been conducting a fund-raiser for a new police dog since last year.

“This is another example of the community reaching out and helping the police department,” McGrath said. According to McGrath the department needs to have four dogs — one for each of the patrol platoons — in order to give the township 24/7 police-dog coverage.

“I’ve been rescuing dogs for 25 years and totally believe what K-9 dogs can do,” Miller said. So far Miller’s efforts have raised about $3,000.

Lower Merion Police Sgt. Sharon Luciane said it costs $6,000 to buy a police dog and another $3,500 to train it.

With the retirement of Adar, a dog trained in patrol and bomb detection, the township plans to add another dog later in 2009.

According to McGrath the dogs are trained to use their acute sense of smell to detect a suspect who is hiding or trying to elude police.

“They help us whenever we have to search either a home or a business that might have a criminal in it,” McGrath said. “If we get a call and we find out someone is still in the building we use the dogs rather then a person to search the building.”

The fund drive involves the purchase of reusable shopping bags at Buzzy’s store, 701 Montgomery Ave. in Penn Valley. Each bag is sold for $15 but includes a $10 coupon toward a store purchase. One person who purchases a bag will find a prize of a $250 shopping spree at Buzzy’s.

Anyone interested in contributing toward the purchase of a K-9 dog can drop off a check at the store, made payable to Lower Merion Police Department K-9 Unit.