http://www.wkyc.com/assetpool/images/06227173120_midge300x225.jpgMini Chihuahua latest Geauga County K-9
GEAUGA COUNTY -- In Geauga County there is a new K-9 deputy on patrol. But when it comes to taking a bite out of crime, this deputy dog will be taking very small portions.
For the last seven years, there has been one top dog in the Geauga County Sheriff's Department, Brutus, the big German Shepherd has been the go-to canine.
But that's about to change.
Here comes "Midge," two pounds of raw recruit police power.
A 3-month-old miniature Chihuahua with a little Rat Terrier mixed in, who has one major talent right now.
"Cute, she is cute, she is little, she's very friendly, she likes people a lot," Geauga Sheriff Dan McClelland said.
Midge, in her little uniform, is already patrolling the hallways at the county jail and the sheriff has plans to train her as the smallest drug dog in the state of Ohio.
"I had this idea that I've toyed with for a few years, why couldn't a small dog be used just as well?" McClelland said.
"She watches everybody comes in the room," Sheriff Dept. Deputy Carrie Jericho said. "Her ears perk up and she watches who's coming in."
So far Brutus, who obviously has a sense of humor, has taken to the new tiny trainee.
And the department's K-9 trainer thinks Midge has a bright future.
"I know from my work that kids and dogs get the people's hearts," K9 Deputy Lt. Tom McCaffrey said.
She won't begin her training as a drug detection canine for another six months.
Even on her tiptoes, Midge is only two feet high.
"She's not going to strike fear into a whole lot of folks," McClelland said. "That's not her job."
― Whiney G. Weingarten (whineyg), Tuesday, 28 February 2006 16:56 (twenty years ago)