Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-23

If you had heard of an old world European city which was sufficiently
 Up to date to employ dogs as DO licemen, and kept veterinary surgeons
 at headquarters to look after them together with special officers to train them by means of dummy burglars
 and pickpockets, you might well be
 surprised. Yet this system has been
 in use for years in the picturesque
 old city of Ghent, in Belgium; and so
 successful have these four-legged of.
 ficers become that the idea of dog.
 policemen is finding favor all over
 Belgium as well as in France, and in
 more than 150 German municipalities
 besides.
 Indeed, the Prussian minister of the
 interior recently sent Herr Laufer,
 police commissioner at Schwelm, on a
 special mission to Ghent to interview
 M. E. Van Wesemael, police chief of that city, to whom belongs the credit of having been the first to initiate Ao6- -PotiNCalOu HI IulOpCsF
 I called upon M. Van Wesemael that might learn from the very foun- tain-head the whole story of these
 wonderful dogs, who have not only been eminently successful as night "cops," but have saved the municipali- ty many thousands of francs year. On the Anglo-Spanish frontier at Gi- bralter and elsewhere dogs are used as smugglers; they retrieve game for sportsmen with wonderful sagacity; they lead the blind; rescue wayfarers on the famous St. Bernard, in Switzer- land. and are used in the German army to find the wounded on battle field and carry medicines to them. I
 Therefore, argued the Ghent chief of police, why not provide our night patrolmen with four-legged colleagues who could beat round in waste places act as scouts. pursue pickpockets fast CT than any two-legged officer, and generally give their human colleague sense of security and protection? Moreover, look at the idea from the point of the malefactor, and you will see how the dog-policemen positively prevent crimes which might other wise be- committed. It Is possible enough on 2 dark night to elude an ordinary policeman, but a big, power ful Belgian sheepdog, with more tricks in his repertory than first class juggler-that is a very different matter.
 In 1899, the city of Ghent. in which night-watches of the police have been thoroughly organized ever since 1854, resolved upon an increase of the force. Belgium is -a- poor country, and the city's budget" was exhaust ed. Thereupon arose M. Van Wese- mael. and suggested seriously enough that. if the city couldn't afford men, perhaps 1t could afford dogs.
 The city fathers resolved to try the experiment. at any rate; and in March. 1899, the "chiens-pollciers' were tried in small way. They were particularly wanted for the outskirts of the town, which were notorious for violent robberies and no arrests. Naturally enough. the police avoided these places. where, alone and far from help. they were supposed to deal with bands of armed thugs.
 Here are some of the>, regulations specially laid down by M. Van wese- mael, .'The poIice-dogs win be taken out the moment the night-call rings, and led back into their kennels at the morning call. always held in leash. This last will always be held short, SO as to prevent the dogs from attack ing passers-by. Arrived on their beat, the night police will let loose their dogs. that they may act as scouts, and grow accustomed to visiting outlying houses and farms and isolated quar- ters where proving criminals may hide. The dogs will always remain during duty. If they give no- tice by barks or growls that they have found something unusual. the men will hasten to rejoin them, and re- move their muzzle, which may be readily done.
 The men will not permit anyone to coax or caress the dogs. that they may be accustomed only to obey of. fcers in uniform. The animals must always be treated with gentleness, but never petted except by way of reward for good service rendered. In speak Ing to the dogs a tone of sharp com mand must always be used. and the must obey instantly.
 'If possible, avoid all chastisement: and a threat must invariably precede correction. For. once struck. the dog may lose his pluck and nerve, and become even dangerous to the of- ncsr with whom he works. The night police will always prevent the dogs from picking up bones or eating any food whatsoever found whilst on duty. | Criminals have already striven to poison our foursooted colleagues. The chemicals used for this purpose pro duce the most terrible and instant affects.