Read below to find out how Scout is already impressing the police force, the local citizens, and all who meet him! Follow Scout's progress through his training in the K9 Corps!
And as you read, please consider helping out the fundraiser for the St Johnsbury, Vermont Police K9 Unit. The unit needs to raise funds to cover:
• Scout and his handler's specialized training and schooling
• purchasing a protective K9 vest for Scout
• purchasing K9 unit equipment for Scout's body size once he is fully grown
Please make checks payable to The Town of St. Johnsbury and write "K-9 Unit" in the memo section. Send to K-9 Unit, St. Johnsbury Police Dept, 1187 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. The Police Department and Scout thank you!!!
Notes from Scout's K9 Unit handler
Scout is a Spoonerville Shepherds pup from the Cinni/Grizz 11/2010 litter. Like many of our pups' owners, Scout's K9 Unit handler (Officer Justin Hoyt, St. Johnsbury Police Dept, St. Johnsbury, Vermont) sends us updates on this budding K9 Corps German Shepherd:
01/28/2011: Here is a shot from the [St Johnsbury, VT police] station, Scout's first visit to his future place of employment [K-9 Drug Unit] . . . where Scout met some of the other handlers and the training coordinator for the state's K-9s . . Scout impressed from the start and the TC wants us at the academy for [the July 2011] class!!! All the handlers were enamored by him and took all kinds of pictures.
04/18/2011: . . . Scout "on duty". He isn't certified yet, but he does enjoy coming to work and hanging out with the guys already! The public has taken a liking to him. (One restaurant owner insists that Scout needs some boiled chicken EVERY time we visit!!) As you can see, he is growing up fast; yesterday at the vet's office he weighted in at 53 lbs. He is going to some advanced obedience classes.
04/19/2011: You can see the "TV star" known as Scout on Lyndon State College News 7.
From 7 NewsLINC — Sunday, April 17th, 2011 — from an article by Aaron Kormos titled St. Johnsbury's Newest Police Officer:
You can view the online article here.
The St. Johnsbury Police have acquired their newest member of the Police Force; a five-month-old German Shepherd by the name of Scout.
Scout is the first K9 unit for St. Johnsbury and Officer Justin Hoyt his handler says, "He's awesome, he's a great dog. So far he's been a great family dog. I look forward to seeing what he can do in police work. I have high hopes for him." The program was approved last fall and Hoyt was given Scout almost four months ago. Hoyt already has one dog in his home, an adult husky whom Scout has been getting along with very well.
Hoyt said that they are, "best buds." Hoyt also has a young daughter who has bonded quite well with Scout. "They play fetch every night together. My daughter, she's eighteen months old, she's funny because she throws the ball and then yells go. She is teaching him how to play," said Hoyt.
. . . Scout will leave in two weeks to begin his . . . obedience training. Hoyt will join him for the last few weeks. At training, Scout will learn the basic commands that are required for a police dog, as well as start him on tracking and patrolling training and firearms familiarity . . .
Scouts training will not end there. In July both Scout and Officer Hoyt will be attending tracking and patrol school at the police academy. This training will teach both Officer Hoyt and Scout what they need to know in order to track both fugitives and missing persons. They will also learn how to patrol together and how Scout can effectively be used in almost every situation. After the summer Scout will be able to Patrol officially with Officer Hoyt before attending drug training school next January.
But the fact that Scout isn't fully trained yet hasn't stopped Hoyt from bringing him to work with him. "I started to bring him to work pretty much every shift to get him used to the guys and take him out. He's riding in the backseat getting to see the town . . .
Plans are in the work to get Scout his own bullet proof vest, but because he is still a puppy, he still has quite a bit of growing to do before they can fit him properly. In fact, Officer Hoyt says that he could potentially double his size when he is full grown.
Donations are needed to help support the St. Johnsbury Police Department K9 Unit
Please consider even a small donation to the the St Johnsbury, Vermont Police K9 Unit, to help pay for K9 Unit schooling and training and protective K9 vests and equipment. Please make checks payable to The Town of St. Johnsbury and write "K-9 Unit" in the memo section. Send to K-9 Unit, St. Johnsbury Police Dept, 1187 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. The Police Department and Scout thank you!!!