County to get new bomb-sniffing dog through donation

[Global Paw]

BELLEFONTE - A company that makes dog treats is treating Centre County's Sheriff's office to a new bomb-sniffing dog.

Representatives from Milk-Bone and Weis Markets will be on hand Thursday to present a $5,000 check to Sheriff Denny Nau and the office's K-9 unit.

Nau said an explosives detection dog costs about $8,000, once training and certification costs are factored in. The money will be used to offset the cost of purchasing a new pooch for the department. The program has not used county funds in the past.

The K-9 unit's current explosives-sniffer, Astra, a Belgian Malinois, was diagnosed with a brain tumor late last year and will likely be retiring soon, Nau said.

Deputy Sheriff Eric Albright, who handles the dog, said Astra is still working and passes tests every month to keep her certification with the North American Police Working Dog Association, one of the larger organizations in North America that is dedicated to training and certifying police dog teams.

But, "if she can't work, she's out of service right away," Nau said. When she retires, she will be offered to Albright.

"We're not in any rush," Nau said. "It depends on how Astra is doing."

The dog regularly responds to bomb threats at area schools, reports of suspicious vehicles and incidents involving the University Park Airport's explosives-residue detection machine.

Nau said he hopes the new dog will be a more visible presence at the airport since "in this day and age, we know terrorists will use bombs."