The dog, a five-year-old German shepherd named Kaylee, led police to a wooded area at the rear of the home where their suspect was trying to hide.
“Without the family dog, we wouldn’t have found the guy — without a doubt,” said Const. Derek Watson of the Niagara Regional Police.
The family was at a funeral their alarm company alerted them to the break-in.
An officer arrived at the home to find the rear patio door open and the dog sitting in the backyard, Watson said.
It was barking and growling. The officer said to the dog: “Where is he? Where did he go?”
The dog led the officer to the back of the property, but the officer didn’t see or hear anyone.
“(Kaylee) is trained not to leave the property,” said the homeowner, Jeff Inglis. “She goes to the property line and freezes, unless she has permission, so I think she stopped because she was waiting for permission.”
The officer went back to the home, but the dog remained agitated and started barking and growling again.
The officer and the dog returned to the back of the property. That’s when the officer spotted the suspect from a distance, walking through a vineyard and visibly out of breath.
Police say a search of the suspect’s backpack found break-in tools and jewelry that had been taken from the home.
A search of the woods recovered the family’s laptop.
“We are really happy with Kaylee,” Inglis said. “I’m glad we caught him. She is very protective. She’s a great dog. The officer joked the police should take her and train her.”
As for special treats for his crime-fighting canine, Inglis said the officer returned later in the day with a large marrow bone for Kaylee.
~ Via Toronto Sun
Tags: dog detective, dog hero, Police Dog, smart dog