AR-News: Dogs retiring from bomb squad

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Canine veterans retire from bomb squadBy RICHARD LIEBSON 
THE JOURNAL NEWS 
(Original publication: October 31, 2003)

They woofed, they wagged their tails, and one of them kissed Westchester 
County Executive Andrew Spano right on the lips. In all, it wasn't your typical 
police retirement party. About 25 police officers and eight police dogs turned 
out at the county Police Academy in Valhalla yesterday to honor "Amy'' and 
"Brant,'' two yellow Labradors who retired after serving six years on the county 
bomb squad. "Amy and Brant are particularly special because they were our first 
bomb-sniffing dogs,'' Spano said during a brief ceremony that attracted 
police dogs and their handlers from Westchester and Orange counties and New York 
City. "They've paved the way for us, and done such an excellent job that we've 
added two more bomb dogs and have another in training.'' Both dogs are retiring 
for medical reasons and will spend the rest of their days as family pets of 
their police partners, Detective Bob Outhouse, who owns Amy, and Detective Don 
Gray, Brant's handler. During their years of service, the dogs conducted 
thousands of searches in schools, airports, office buildings and other places, and 
helped protect visiting dignitaries that included five U.S. presidents or 
former presidents, the pope and Nelson Mandela. "They've met more dignitaries than 
I have,'' Spano joked before presenting each dog with a certificate, a 
retirement identification card and a medal for distinguished service. When Spano 
hung the medal around Amy's neck, she sniffed at it, as though it might be 
something to eat. Brant, apparently overcome by the emotion of the event, hopped up 
on his hind legs and licked Spano's face. Both dogs also got their favorite 
treats — popcorn for Amy and bananas for Brant. "It's a little bit sad and a 
little bit happy,'' Outhouse said of Amy's retirement. "She's a very good dog, 
but she's starting to get some health problems." One of his three children 
agreed. "It's kind of sad because she won't get to do her job anymore, and she 
really likes it,'' said Christine Outhouse, "but it's good because she'll be 
around to play with us more.'' Send e-mail to <A HREF="mailto:rliebson at thejournalnews.com">Richard Liebson </A>
    
    
    

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