The Ross Township police have a new officer in their ranks — a 15-month-old Belgian malinois shepherd from Holland named Tyr, who is completing training to serve in the department’s K9 unit.
Tyr was born at the De Stroete Kennels in Holland and sent to trainer Bertil Leezer when he was eight weeks old, according to his trainer, Officer Justin Allenbaugh.
“Bertil got him as a puppy and began training him at that young age for his career as a police K9 before sending him to us,” Allenbaugh said.
The officer said he was able to contact the trainer with questions about the dog and received videos showing his progression during training.
The opportunity to learn about the dog before receiving it made the process “easier and special,” Allenbaugh said.
During its first year the dog underwent basic training in search and other techniques that will be used once deployed in the field.
Ross received Tyr the day before his 1st birthday, Allenbaugh said.
Tyr currently is undergoing a three-week long narcotics training session needed for certification.
That will be followed by a five weeks of training in patrol aspects of the job, which includes obedience, tracking, article search, building search, area search and techniques to control aggressive suspects to protect his handler.
He is expected to be deployed by mid-October.
The dog also will have to undergo “maintenance” training for 16 hours each month and be recertified each year.
Tyr replaces Allenbaugh’s previous K9, Jimy, who died unexpectedly following emergency surgery on Sept. 9.
An ultrasound performed by a veterinarian after Jimy began experiencing stomach problems indicated that he had an enlarged spleen, according to police.
A second ultrasound performed at Animal Friends in Ohio Township showed that Jimy needed surgery to remove his spleen, which was twisted.
But before Allenbaugh could pick him up, Jimy went into medical distress and was rushed back into surgery where doctors determined that he was experiencing internal bleeding.
Jimy died before a surgeon could locate the source of the bleeding.
Ross has two other dogs in its K9 unit — Cezar and Neeko.
