Bangor police dog’s duty to be restricted

BANGOR – A Bangor police dog that attacked another dog in Glenburn on Saturday, the second such incident in six months, is expected to return to duty as early as this weekend, but with restrictions.

Based on the opinions of three dog handlers and the preliminary results of an assessment Friday, Bangor Police Chief Don Winslow said that it was believed the German shepherd, Rex, could be retrained and broken of his aggressiveness toward other dogs.

Rex’s return to service will include restriction to those activities in which he’s been certified, which includes tracking and searching. Authorities have placed further restrictions on the dog when he’s not in service.

Rex’s handler will have to keep the dog in a kennel, on a leash or lead, and Rex will have to be muzzled when allowed out, Winslow said.

Glenburn resident Kevin Bennett, whose husky, Sable, was attacked and injured by Rex as Bennett walked her on Merryman Road last Saturday, said that while precautions against future attacks have been taken, he’s concerned that the police dog will strike again.

“The signs are clear, this dog should be removed from service permanently,” Bennett said in a statement. Bennett, a Bangor Daily News photographer, was slightly injured, suffering cuts and abrasions on his arms and legs as he struggled to separate the dogs.

The city has taken responsibility for the incident, Winslow said, including coverage of hospital and veterinarian costs.

Meanwhile, Amy Cyr, who lives next door to Rex and has a 150-pound Rottweiler, Zues, said the dogs had fought on two occasions, including one time this spring when both dogs required veterinary care. Cyr said some of her concerns remain and ultimately those outweigh the new safety precautions.

“I’d rather not have the dog next door to me,” Cyr said. Although Zues no longer lives at her home permanently, he does come to visit and there are other dogs in the area, she said.

Cyr said even though there are no reports of unprovoked attacks on people, there are children in the neighborhood, including her own. Saturday’s attack “puts doubt in your mind” about what Rex is capable of doing, she said.

She’s also not convinced that a muzzle is dog-proof, believing that dogs, if they want to, can get free from them.

As well as trying to break Rex of his aggressiveness toward other dogs, trainers will be working on his obedience skills, Winslow said. In both Saturday’s attack and the one in May involving Zues, the dog’s handler ordered Rex to back off, but the dog didn’t. Bennett said Rex didn’t release his grip on Sable until Bennett hit Rex on the nose with a flashlight.

Certified in tracking, searching buildings and drug detection, 3-year-old Rex was not certified in obedience when he went through training in August because it was felt he wouldn’t pass, according to police.

Rex is one of two K-9 units on the Bangor Police Department. There have been no reported incidents involving the other dog.