Dogs for Drunks

Posted by: Blue

Last night at around 5:30 a.m., my partner and I were called to the General Hospital to pick up an intoxicated person and bring them to the tank.

Upon arrival, our subject was gone; he had sobered up while waiting and staff had let him walk.

While we were getting back into the cruiser, I was approached by a large mutt in need of a brushing.  He seemed harmless.  I reached my closed fist out.  He pushed his face into my hand for a pet.

No collar.  No tags.  Couldn't see a tattoo or a chip.  Hospital security told us they had been waiting on animal services all night.

My partner voiced on the radio: "November 105, Can you change our call to an animal call and show us enroute to the "jail" on Centre Street please?  One in custody."  The dispatcher stifled a laugh as she replied: "November 105, copy."

The pooch rode in the backseat quietly with his big ungroomed head poking into the front seat through the small window in our plexiglass shield.  I tried to get him to chew on my partner's epaulettes, but he wasn't listening.

The 24/7 shelter took him in and promised to try to find him a home.

I told my partner we probably got a better deal.  The dog seemed trained and was less likely to soil the backseat than a drunk was.