Give a dog a good name

Jul 27 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

A new two month old puppy without a name arrived at Merseyside Police training centre, Allerton _180

THREE new four-legged recruits have joined Merseyside police to help officers enforce law and order in the region.

The German Shepherd puppies have been recruited to the dog section after being bought from West Midlands, Thames Valley and Greater Manchester police.

Last night, Inspector Neil Davis, head of the dog section, said the new arrivals would make a huge impact in the force, as both breeding dogs and police dogs.

He explained that Merseyside police had chosen to buy two-month-old Gita, 14-week-old Rebel and a nine-week-old dog, who is yet to be named, after unsuccessful attempts with the force’s own breeding programme, and to introduce new blood lines into the force’s dogs.

He said that as the youngest puppy would be used to protect the people of Merseyside, it was only right that the public should be the ones to name him and appealed for suggestions to be submitted to the Merseyside police website.

He said: “All our dogs have an important role to play in policing and these three will make an important contri-bution to the force.”

“We only collected the youngest puppy a few days ago and now need a name for him. We need as many suggestions from the public and need them soon so he can learn his own name and training can begin.

“He has a great character, is afraid of nothing and is very playful.

“We need inspiration for a suitable name for him.

The puppies will now be placed in the homes of volunteers, who care for them while they undergo puppy training.

At eight to nine months old, they will be then assigned to a dog handler who will take the puppy home.

Once they reach 14-16 months old, they will then start their formal training and if they complete the 13-week course and assessment successfully, they will then become registered police dogs.

ANYONE with a name for the new puppy, can visit the Merseyside Police website www.merseyside.police.uk and click on Name The Puppy.

TO SEE a video of the puppy, click here.

carolineinnes@dailypost