Community Corner

Local Police Dog Headed For Slammer

"We're optimistic Koa will one day be serving a community somewhere as a crime-fighting dog, and we're excited about playing a role in his career.''

An impounded dog whose breed is favored by law enforcement will be leaving the Riverside County Animal Shelter in Thousand Palms tomorrow en route to his new home -- the Arizona prison system.   

Koa, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been in and out of animal shelters since December, according to county Animal Services spokesman John Welsh.

He said the dog is a jumper and easily hurtled his Lake Elsinore owner's six-foot fence.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The canine was first caught wandering the streets last New Year's Eve, leading to his impoundment at the Southwest Communities Animal Shelter in Wildomar, a facility run by the nonprofit Animal Friends of the Valleys.   

In early February, Koa made another escape and was picked by an Animal Services officer who transported the dog, again, to the Wildomar shelter, according to Welsh.   

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Monique Middleton, a supervisor at the shelter, said Koa's owner decided at that point to relinquish him for adoption.   

"It's a very high-maintenance dog, and no matter what the family did -- no matter how big a fence they built -- Koa kept escaping,'' Middleton said. "They were very heartbroken, but they also worried the dog would be hit by a car.''   

According to Welsh, the Belgian Malinois breed is often used by law enforcement agencies for search-and-rescue. He said the U.S. Secret Service relies exclusively on the canines for its operations.   

Realizing Koa's potential, Middleton reached out to rescue groups and police training organizations to try to place the dog. The Corrections Corporation of America's Arizona office responded. The for-profit group manages a half-dozen detention centers and other correctional facilities in the Grand Canyon State.   

Animal Services Director Rob Miller agreed to arrange Koa's transfer to its new owners.   

"This is one of those opportunities when two animal control agencies could work together in the best interest of a pet in desperate need of a fresh chance,'' Miller said. "We're optimistic Koa will one day be serving a community somewhere as a crime-fighting dog, and we're excited about playing a role in his career.''  --City News Service


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