Meet Pogo, Poland Township Police’s newest rescued recruit
There’s a recruit at the Poland Township Police Department assisting the department in the fight against narcotics.
Everyone can come to celebrate her swearing-in as the newest Police Township Canine with her fellow officers at the station.
Pogo’s story
But Pogo began her young life far from K-9 cruisers. She started as a stray in Tennessee.
Poland Township Police Chief Greg Wilson had been searching for the past year for a police canine, which was when his fiancee Cheri stumbled upon The Throw Away Dog Project. This Philadelphia-based rescue company helps find the dog’s new purposes.
The Throw Away nonprofit organization “trains and relocates ‘unique’ dogs to positively impact our communities.”
Within less than 24 hours, the department was working with The Throw Away Project. It started to find the right canine to fit Poland Township’s needs.
According to the Throw Away Project, Pogo was found near a construction site in Tennessee. Before coming to Ohio, Pogo was already being utilized by Global K9 Protection Services as a ‘pack dog.’
Soon, Pogo was selected by the Throw Away Project as the perfect fit for Chief Wilson and the officers in Poland Township.
“This was the start of a special relationship between these two organizations, and hopefully the beginning of many more to come for this area,” the department wrote online.
“She’s going to be a community dog. She’s going to be in our parade. She’s going to be in our Safety Forces Day. She’s going to be visiting the school, visiting with the kids,” Wilson said in an online article.
Passing the test
Pogo has been living with her trainer, Poland Township Officer Ethan Moncilovich.
They’re using The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)-approved training curriculum with Pogo, who demonstrated her skills this February.
Pogo’s ready to face the canine police detection dog test on April 11, which the department is confident she’ll pass.
If all goes well, she will be sworn in 5 p.m. Tuesday at the department.
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