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4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 1, 2000 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Partnegs... Durham cop fights for laws to protect service dogs By Rik Davie Special to the Star SCUGOG RESIDENT is about to make the giant leap from enforcing the law in Durham Region to chang- ing the laws of Canada. Durham Regional Police Constable Dave Mounsteven is in the midst of a national campaign to protect his partner - Police Service Dog Chase - and others like him across the country. Frustrated that police service ani- mals fall into the same category as household pets under new cruelty to animal legislation in the federal parliament, Const. Mounsteven is working with local and federal politicians and fellow canine officers from across the country to recognize the community pro- tection role police dogs and horses provide to Canadian citizens... sometimes at the cost of their lives. The Star took to the streets with Const. Mounsteven and Chase recently to find out what is behind the officer's law reform campaign on behalf of his four-legged partner. Cruising the mean late-night streets of Durham Region with Const. Dave Mounsteven and Chase, it's hard to believe that this pair, who were recently named Police Officer of the Year, think about anything 'but catching the bad guys. Chase paces the enclosed kennel area of the cruis- er and yelps in anticipation every time the radio crackles, while Const. Mounsteven monitors a wide range of calls for any incident in which he thinks he can assist. This single-minded dedication to "catching the bad guys" has helped the team to rack up more than 200 arrests, and has been a factor in the presti- gious record of arrests and successful searches for the five-team Durham Police K-9 Unit. n this night - one called "very slow" by Const. Orrounsiever - he and Chase respond to two different high schools for 955 calls (possible burglary in progress). Chase shows his stuff by search- ing the huge area of a high school in minutes. The dog's presence negates the need for a long and possi- bly dangerous search by uniformed officers. Before long police conclude that the culprits, whoever they were, are long gone. A robbery at a fast food outlet in Pickering lands Chase his first "solid track" of the night. He leads offi- cers. directly to a townhouse two blocks from the scene. Robbery squad officers are now following up on residents of the home as possible suspects in the armed robbery. All this canine commando asks in return is a pat on the head from Const. Mounsteven, and they're back on the job. The three-year-old German Shepherd lives with Const. Mounsteven, his wife and his four-year-old son near Port Perry. Chase has shown his dedication to his partner on several occasions. The most notable feat is | what started Const. Mounsteven on his quest for legal protection and distinction for all service animals. Two Durham officers were trying to subdue two sus- pects at an Oshawa bar, and not having a lot of luck with the two huge, burly 'and violent men. Const. Mounsteven, arrived on the scene, and became involved in a struggle that was going danger- ously bad for the officers. Assaulted physically and wrestling with a violent man in a battle that could turn tragic at any time for the officer, he called to his partner for help. Const. Mounsteven hit a switch on his bullet-proof vest and opened the 'rear door of his cruiser. Chase leapt from the cruiser and immediately grabbed the sus- pect by the arm, allowing Const. Mounsteven to escape from the barrage of blows \miice being rained on him. Dazed, Const. Mounsteven was unable to assist his partner for a few moments. The suspect kicked Chase continually in the ribs, cracking some of them, and aimed blows at the dog's ~~ body and head. But the dog man- aged to hold onto the sus- pect as Const. Mounsteven regained his feet and assist- ed other officers in subduing another sus- pect. @ 5 Only when Const. Mounsteven assured his part- ner that all was well was the dog's grip on the second sus- pect released. Chase col- lapsed to the ground in severe pain from the numer- ous blows he suffered protecting his partner and the two other officers. The dog required immediate emergency attention and several weeks of recuperation before he could return to work. The suspect was never punished for the attack on the dog, but was sentenced for other actions during the altercation with police. "Even under new cruelty laws," says Const. Mounsteven, "there is no separate distinction for police service dogs. "Chase saved me that night, and other police ser- vice dogs have died to save their partners and pro- . Const. Dave Mounsteven and his canine partner, Chase, on the job. tect the community from violent offend- ers." Const. Mounsteven does not mini- mize the efforts of those who passed the new, stiffer, penalties for cruelty to animals. "They were needed and long over- due," he said. "We simply want the law to recognize that police service ani- mals carry out a distinct function in the protection of the community that goes well beyond what even we as officers do ourselves." Const. Mounsteven is emotional as he sits in his home and watches Chase play like a puppy with his young son. "These dogs live and work with us," he said."And if need be, they will die for us... and for the community. All we who work with these animals are asking is that the law recognize this with a separate section to deal with those who would harm them." both local politicians - Oshawa-area MP Ivan Grose met with Const. Mounsteven last week to lend his support - and police officers across the country. One officer in particular, an RCMP dog handler in British Columbia, has joined forces with Const. Mounsteven to petition politicians in Ottawa for amendments to animal cruelty laws. Corporal Pete Nazaroff ® of the Kamloops detach- ment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Service Dog Unit is taking up the fight for reasons he says are sim- Can Mounsteven now has help from ple to him. "These animals protect society's protectors," Cpl. Nazaroff said in a oN phone interview SA wih The Star. oy "Since 1935, just as 4 many police officers in this country have had their lives saved by service dogs as by bullet proof vests, and it is time that we thanked them for their efforts by protecting them." Const. Mounsteven hopes that members of the public will come forward to help him and Cpl. Nazaroff gather the support they will need. "The way it looks to us right now, with support, this could be law by this year," he said. When asked what his partner Chase would think about his efforts, Const. Mounsteven watches as the muscular dog rolls gently on the ground with his son. "He knows how | feel about him, and | know how he feels about me... that's enough." Anyone wishing to help in the efforts of Const. Mounsteven can contact him through the Durham Regional Police Service at 579-1520.