Sam the Police Dog

One of my favorite stories about a police dog was one that aired on Animal Planet again a few days ago.

Sam had a deep bond with her human partner. They had been working together for some time. Sam was always on time and obeyed her handler promptly. However, the woman was about to get a first hand look at just how deep the devotion of her partner ran for her.

She and Sam were in the middle of a random drill as a real call came in on her radio. A murder suspect was loose, and she and Sam were in close proximity. They went straight to the location. Sam struck the man's trail and was right on his tail in a matter of seconds.

The suspect was desperate to avoid being caught, and looked at what appeared to be his only way out. A nearby bridge. The water was a long way down and filled with mud and concrete. A sure recipe for disaster.

The handler commanded Sam: "Get Him!" - confident that the man would not jump.

The suspect did. And, Sam went right after him. There was silence for a moment as they both hit the water. As the handler ran toward the riverbank, she kept calling Sam's name, but doubted they would even be able to find the bodies.

Then the suspect appeared, franticly swimming for the shore. Sam was not far behind. He tried to force Sam's head under, but she overpowered him and pinned him on the riverbank.

Needless to say, the dedication of Sam the Police Dog was never questioned again!

Rena Murray
DogWhisperWoman