Nova Scotia town sponsors police dog, names it after fallen soldier

People in Bridgewater, N.S., have raised almost enough money for a new police dog already in training.

“I’m very proud of how our community has come together to help make this a reality,” said Bridgewater Police Service Chief John Collyer.

As of March 26, $15,000 had been raised with more donations left to count. In total, $20,000 is needed.

Davis, a German shepherd, came to the province from Europe last Tuesday.

Collyer described the dog as more of a want than a need. The police force already has a volunteer dog handler and his dog for select assignments but not “some of the tactical work, some of the drug work that we’re looking to have,” he said.

The dog will be used for activities including locating missing people, and item and drug searches.

A full-time canine member would “enhance” safety in the community, Collyer added.

Police put out a call for donations last fall. The community subsequently put on fundraisers, including cupcake sales.

Collyer noted that the community has done something similar before to get automated external defibrillators into every police car, a Nova Scotia first.

Police asked Bridgewater Elementary School to hold a naming contest for the dog. Students came up with 174 names.

Const. Morgan Gibson, who is Davis’ handler, picked an entry from a Grade 3 class in honour of Bridgewater native Cpl. Paul Davis, who died while serving in Afghanistan 10 years ago.

“It’s amazing. I don’t really have any words to describe it better than that. It’s just amazing that in any small way we could recognize his service and sacrifice,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's amazing. I don't really have any words to describe it better than that. It's just amazing that in any small way we could recognize his service and sacrifice," he said.

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Halifax Regional Police are currently training Davis.

“Seeing them from when they just come off the plane as puppies to the finished product is very rewarding,” said Const. Phil MacDonald, a dog handler and unit trainer.

The nascent duo are sticking to simple activities before graduating to standard police dog training.

“He’s super friendly and just wants to hang out all the time and so, since we’re in the bonding phase right now, that’s perfect,” said Gibson.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He's super friendly and just wants to hang out all the time and so, since we're in the bonding phase right now, that's perfect," said Gibson.

Davis is expected to finish training in about four to five months.