I also am not a qualified dog trainer, but my father is. He is a retired Washington Metropolitan Police K-9 officer/trainer and has been training and judging K9 dogs for over 40 years.

What has occurred with this dog and handler at the State Highway Patrol is not appropriate at all. These are not the guidelines of K-9 training. If a dog is so "aggressive" that the handler feels he needs to beat the dog, then this dog is not an appropriate K9 partner and should have been turned down for police work. As my father would say -"that type of dog is for junkyard work, not police work".

I grew up with a K-9 dog in my family. My father brought him home every night. He was his partner and a part of our family. Did my father discipline him? Absolutely! But I could almost guarantee that the USPCA (United States Police Canine Association) training guide does not include kicking or beating your partner as discipline.

While I don't necessarily agree that the trooper should have been fired, he definitely should be disciplined and he should not be a K-9 officer in the future. I am glad to see that the Patrol has suspended this program until it can find out just exactly is going on. The K-9 program of any police department is a valued asset. These dogs do a wonderful job in tracking narcotics, explosives and other tasks. But they should be treated in the same manner as an officer would treat his human partner, with respect and admiration.

Karen Drumm
Clayton

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After reading your April 30 article "Troopers defend fired patrol dog handler" I was shocked, angry, sickened and deeply disgusted. If Highway Patrol Sgt. Charles L. Jones would treat an animal that he professes to love with such brutality, what could we expect him to do to a citizen that angers him in the field?

What is even more shocking is that other troopers defended Jones and his actions. The dog training tactics described in the article are cowardly and immoral and reflect the same mentality that allows a wife beater or child abuser to blame their victims for being abused. What initially appeared to be a case of a lone offender, who was understandably fired, now seems to be a reflection of the entire Highway Patrol dog training program. I was relieved to see the May 1 follow up article reporting that the program was being reviewed. These egregious practices need to be stopped and a complete overhaul of the training program needs to be instituted.

Still, I am left with a lingering question. Can you retrain these troopers to understand the abuse of power they exhibited in their previous training? Will they learn that control through fear and intimidation is not an effective method with people or animals?

Debbie Durham
Raleigh

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Trooper Jones thinks that instilling fear in his canine companion will cause the animal to obey, but you only get from the animal what you put in. This tactic will cause the animal to develop fear and contempt for its handler. Those who support this type of training should be given their walking papers as well, or better yet, a dose of their own medicine!

My father worked for the Department of Correction for 30 years and trained and handled many police dogs. He never kicked, choked or suspended his dog off the ground. The dog was trained with dignity and respect with lots of praise for success. When the dog failed to perform, my father simply worked with him more.

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