US police introduce pit bulls to K9 force

For some pit bull dogs are vicious, violent animals. For others
they're simply misunderstood.

Now the US police force may have a hand in changing the image of the
breed, by introducing them into the front lines of policing.

Despite a ban on pit bulls in more than 700 cities across the US, the
dogs are being gradually introduced into K9 patrols.

Nick Harper reports from New York.

IN: "A nose for...."
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TAKE VO
A nose for trouble. Kiah is New York state's only pit bull police dog,
and her speciality is sniffing out drugs.

upsound - "good dog!"

She was found abandoned in a parking lot in Texas with multiple head
injuries two years ago. Since then she's been working with handler
Office Justin Bruzgul.

SOT: Justin Bruzgul, City of Poughkeepsie Police Department
"She's been great, she's an awesome dog, she's a pleasure to work
with. Great partner, couldn't ask for a better partner."

TAKE VO
She had roughly 6 months of intensive training….and has ongoing
training days, like this one at a shopping mall in the town of
Poughkeepsie, where she's sniffing out practice packages of narcotics.
She works alongside the force's more traditional police dog breeds,
nipping at the heels of the German Shepherds.
She's already proved her breed is able to sniff out trouble and now
there's a good chance that before long there could be more pit bulls
within the American police force.

natsound - barking
TAKE VO
At least that's the hope of Stacey Coleman. She works for Animal Farm
Foundation which is trying to change people's perception of pit bulls.

SOT: Stacey Coleman, Animal Farm Foundation, Executive Director
"We know a lot better now than we used to but a lot of what we think
we know about pit bull dogs came form information from long ago. If we
introduce somebody who might be afraid of a dog based on what it looks
like and we let that dog wiggle up into their life or make friends,
the dogs do the best convincing."

TAKE VO
The Foundation sponsors pit bull police dogs, saving forces the usual
training fee of roughly $15,000.
And saving the life of a dog who could potentially be put down.
So far they've placed 40 other dogs around the country. And they say
slowly attitudes are changing.
TAKE VO
And Officer Bruzgul says the reaction he gets is mostly positive.

SOT: Justin Bruzgul, City of Poughkeepsie Police Department
Being that she's the first one in New York I guess it puts a little
bit of weight on my shoulders to make sure she's a good dog, and that
we can actually prove to the public that she's great, she's friendly,
she's a pleasure to be around. There's not a mean bone in her."

TAKE VO
Pit bulls advocates hope they can overcome the breed's ferocious reputation.
And show that rather than being on the wrong side of the law, these
dogs can be heroes too.
SOC


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