Sapulpa Fire Department's newest rookie

Police Departments have K-9 units to track criminals why shouldn't a fire department have dogs to help people who need rescued. Perhaps they should, and now one does. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter

Thursday, January 27th 2005, 10:02 am

By: News On 6

Police Departments have K-9 units to track criminals why shouldn't a fire department have dogs to help people who need rescued. Perhaps they should, and now one does.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells went to Sapulpa Thursday to meet its new search and rescue dog.

His name is Kingalow, Sapulpa Fire's newest rookie. When he's trained, he'll be the department's search and rescue dog. Sapulpa Fire Captain Danny Whitehouse: "I've been looking for a dog like this for 6 or 8 months." Someone in the community got wind of it and donated this one. He's about four months old, with long ears and really big feet. "If he ever fills this up he'll be really big."

We've all seen bloodhounds in the movies tracking people, they have great noses. A fire department with a tracking dog might save lives. He especially likes the bloodhound's gentle disposition. "Somebody with Alzheimerâ€™s will walk away from a nursing home. We'll have a child that gets out of the yard and walks off."

A dog like Kingalow could find them before some thing bad happens. So there is lots of training, house training for one, and fire house training too. Captain Whitehouse will do most of the early training himself, but he says bloodhounds have their own definition of obedience. But his basic instincts are intact.

With Captain Whitehouse's permission, the News on 6 will keep track of Kingalow's training, check in every-now-and-then, and let you know how it's going.