Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Berwick police dog is safely home
By JASON GRAY
Democrat Staff Writer
jgray@fosters.com
Berwick K-9 Officer Chad Allen a few minutes after being reunited with his dog, Baron.
On the floor beside the duo is the harness Baron was wearing when he got loose. (Gray/Democrat photo)
YORK, Maine A local police officer found Baron, the missing Berwick police dog, on Monday morning, thanks in part to his desire to sleep a little later than usual.
York Patrolman Scott Randall woke up around 8:45 a.m. on Monday to prepare for his second job as owner of a garage door opener installation business. While Randall would normally have gotten up around 7:30 a.m. yesterday, on this occasion he decided he needed a little extra sleep.
While he was getting ready for work, Randall spotted Baron sniffing around in his yard, which is near Ridgewood Trail Road. Baron had escaped his handler, Berwick K-9 Officer Chad Allen, while aiding in the search for a reported home invader in York last Tuesday.
"I was like, 'Oh my God, it's the dog!'" said Randall of his initial response upon seeing Baron, shortly after 8:45 a.m. The patrolman grabbed a dog biscuit and approached the four year-old German shepherd. It did not take much encouragement to coax Baron to Randall's arms.
The York police station was filled with rowdy yells and cheers from the officers and dispatchers upon receiving the news of Baron's reappearance by phone from Randall at about 9:30 a.m. Minutes after Randall's call, officials phoned Allen, asking him to come to the station to speak about the status of search to the press. The York officials wanted Baron's recovery to be a surprise.
Allen was told ahead of time however of the dogs retrieval, by Portsmouth police Capt. David 'Lou' Ferland, chief administrator for the Working Dog Foundation, based out of Portsmouth, N.H.
Ferland learned of the dog's return from the Berwick chief of police, and was unaware the York officers wanted to surprise Allen.
"I started shaking when I got the news, I couldn't get down here fast enough," said Allen to York police officials and several reporters a few minutes after reuniting with Baron on Monday, held out of sight of the press. "It's a miracle he ended up in Randall's backyard."
"He was happy and excited, it's hard to describe," said patrolman Brian Houde, who witnessed the reunion. "You could see it in his eyes."
Baron went missing on Tuesday, May 17, when York police called Allen in to aid with the search for the home invasion suspect, who had unsuccessfully tried to enter an apartment at the York Woods complex at 11:45 a.m. While searching off Route 1 for the suspect, Allen and Baron became mired in a swampy, thickly wooded area.
Baron, hot on a scent trail, pulled hard enough on his 20 foot lead to escape Allen's grasp. Berwick and York police searched until night fell, then on May 18 the search kicked into high gear.
The York and Berwick police departments, the state game warden, state police, and some 30 K-9 officers from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts arrived to help in the search, using cruisers, ATVs and a helicopter.
On Thursday, Ferland and the Working Dog Foundation's board of directors issued a $500 reward in hopes of encouraging more searchers to get involved. Area police departments and Foundation volunteers conducted another search for Baron, covering an estimated 2,000 square miles, with no results.
"We solicited the advice of animal experts across the country, even going as far as asking a pet physic where Baron might have gone," said Ferland.
On Saturday, over 25 volunteers and members of the Working Dog Foundation made posters that gave information about the missing dog and the reward. Volunteers drove around York and the surrounding towns, calling Baron's name out their windows in hopes the dog would reveal itself. York police received numerous calls of sightings throughout the day, some from as far away as Bangor.
Finally, on Monday, Baron reappeared in patrolman Randall's yard.
Baron had lost about 5 lbs., suffered minor chafing from his harness, and had a few ticks attached to him. The dog had managed to chew the 20-foot-lead off his harness some time during his wanderings. Allen said he would take Baron to a South Berwick veterinarian to be looked at and said the department will likely give the K-9 a few days off to recover.
Doug Bracy, York police chief, says that having the dog in nearby Berwick is a huge asset to area departments. Baron has nearly completed a second certification enabling him to search vehicles and homes for drugs.
Baron, originally from Holland, can understand commands in German and English. Baron was trained by the New Hampshire K-9 Academy for a year and a half before he came to Berwick.
The home invasion suspect Baron was searching for is still at large. Bracy says that even if Baron caught up to the invader, the dog would not attack unless Allen was there to instruct him. Baron will also defend his handler if someone attacks him.
Allen said Baron likely survived in the woods because of his natural instincts. Bracy said animal experts told officials Baron could have survived in the woods indefinitely.
Allen has been with the Berwick PD for three years, and a K-9 officer since January 2004. Baron lives at home with Allen and is the same age as Allen's son.
"I'd been predicting he would come back on Monday," says Randall.
"We're also waiting to hear back from the officer that found him about the reward," said Ferland Monday night.
"I thought he might try and make it back to Berwick," said Allen.
