Police Dogs

With respect to the article “Riverside School Trains Dogs to Take a Bite Out of Crime” (Part I, June 1), while we appreciate the opportunity to become known to the general public through articles such as this, the truth is that you are doing more harm than good.

At Adlerhorst, we are very concerned about the public image of the police service dog. Too many times these dogs have been portrayed as vicious, mean-spirited, uncontrolled, instruments for causing fear and serious injury. Personal experience with these dogs, which would alleviate these misconceptions, is not readily available to the public. Therefore, your articles are, for most, the public’s sole education on this topic.

The most important function these dogs perform is finding people and things (evidence) through the use of their noses. A bite will occur only when the officer/handler or his function is threatened, and then only when using the dog’s bite is “reasonable force” in the circumstances.

Emphasizing the biting aspect of the dog’s capabilities through the choice of photographs used to illustrate the article, and the references to an “alligator with fur,” serve to mislead the public into thinking that biting is all these dogs do.

These dogs perform a service no other person or thing can or will do, and in return they are entitled to the respect of a fair perspective of their activities.

E. WALLACE DINGMAN

General Counsel

Adlerhorst International