Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-23

However, should one of the dogs
 die instantly whilst on duty from this
 cause, his. body must be taken back to headquarters at once and examined by the veterinary chief. During the winter. and in seasons of rain, snow, or hail, the dog-policeman must al- ways wear their cloaks."
 Now let us consider how the dogs are bought, lodged, fed, equipped, and trained. It is the head vet. of the city who buys the dogs. and after many trials choice has definitely lighted upon the big French and Belgian shepherd dogs, which possess in a wonderful degree. the qualities of en- durance, courage, boldness, fidelity, and that subtle sense expressed by the untranslatable French word flair" Talking of the effect of their fangs upon possible evildoer, M. Van Wesemael remarked to me placidly: Ills ont une machoire qui inspire le respect"
 Personally, inspected the "che- nils." and found the four-legged police men very; comfortably installed in huts or kennels of wood and brick, out in the pretty garden of the central servants appointed to their needs in the person of the concierge and his wife. They are. bought by the vet when six months old, the age when they possess every aptitude necessary for a complete police education.
 The dogs are kept in these kennels all day, and never go out save for a little exercise in the garden of the bureau. The great thing is to keep them unfamiliar with the ordinary un- uniformed public. s9 They go on duty at ten o'clock at night, and come home at six in the morning. Thus they put in eight hours of service without rest. They receieve two meals day, the first at seven o'clock in the morning, and the second at seven o'clock at night. The menu presented to the dog-police would surely make a hobo's mouth water. There is soup and meat, rice, bread and other minor courses. This allowance is found abundant, and the maintenapce of each dog costs about six cents day. M. Van Wesemael estimates that these 30 dogs he em- ploys in the central part of the city cost annually 3,2s5 francs. He points that if the force had been augmented by only 12 additional night guardians and such addition became absolute ly necessary-the police budget would have been increased by 12,000 francs a year. and yet the service secured would not have been anything like SO complete as that rendered by the dogs.
 Each recruit receives a brass collar bearing zinc police-medal, on which is inscribed his name and the date of his birth. He also receives a cot or cloak. and muzzle so constructed that 1t can be instantly removed, thanks to an elastic arrangement con nected with the leash.
 During the first fortnight recruits are kept closely within the kennels, and forced to obey orders. Next a policeman will take them out for a few days so as to make them familiar with the various beats, whistle-calls, and other signals. Every one of the night police. when there is a new re- cruit to be trained, receives a scrap of liver, which he gives to the new. conner. so that every man in uniform appears to the dog as a true friend. For one month this apprenticeship stage lasts from two to four hours every night, and at last the recruit is able to put in his eight hours with the rest. and act as scout, and obey all commands to attack, pursue, leap, swim, walk behind, ahead, or at the side. etc.
 The whole education is directed by "brigadier-controleur," who, how. ever. is invariably in plain clothes; and it is he who stimulates attacks upon the officers. still further to heighten their antipathy to non.uni- formed persons.
 W. c. FITZGERALD.