POLICE PUPPIES ‘CHRISTENED’ IN PRIMARY SCHOOL NAME COMPETITION
Published Tuesday, 10 October, 2006 at 10:16 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Queensland’s next generation of police dogs will be able to put their four paws of the law forward proudly with names chosen by primary school students around the state.
Police Minister Judy Spence has announced the winners of Queensland’s first ever police puppy-naming competition – and their choice of names that will be given to the first specifically-bred police crime-cracking canines.
The two black male German Shepherd pups will be called:
• Monty – selected by Ray Bronson, aged 12, of Indooroopilly Primary School;
• Samson – selected by Eliza Nicol, aged 11, of Dirranbandi P-10 State School.
The three black female German Shepherd pups will be called:
• Tara – selected by Isabella and Georgia White, aged 8, of St Peter Chanel;
• Mishka – selected by Class 3T, of Rasmussen State School;
• Peppa – Sarah Dionysius, Class 6, of Mount Sylvia State School.
Ms Spence said the response to the competition had been overwhelming.
“Since the puppies were born seven weeks ago, police have received more than 1,200 entries from primary school students at 241 schools across Queensland,” Ms Spence said.
“All the entries were very creative and at the end of the day Queensland police officers had a hard time selecting a shortlist before they made a random draw of the winning names.”
All five pups will be placed in foster homes where they will be cared for until they reach 12-18 months, at which point they will be housed at Australia’s first purpose-built police dog development complex in Brisbane and taught the right traits to maximise their chance of becoming police dogs.
Ms Spence revealed her household is one of five foster families chosen to look after the pups. One of the four-legged furry recruits will become part of the Minister’s family for the next 12 months or so, before it is assigned to a Police dog handler and starts training.
“These are all very special puppies, who will grow up to be the next generation of police dogs trained to track, search and apprehend,” Ms Spence said.
“Any puppies that show specialist detection skills will undergo further training to locate explosive materials.”
All winners will be listed at www.police.qld.gov.au/puppies on Monday. They will be sent a framed certificate signed by Ms Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, a photo of their named puppy and an ink pawprint.
Media contact: Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287
Police Minister Judy Spence has announced the winners of Queensland’s first ever police puppy-naming competition – and their choice of names that will be given to the first specifically-bred police crime-cracking canines.
The two black male German Shepherd pups will be called:
• Monty – selected by Ray Bronson, aged 12, of Indooroopilly Primary School;
• Samson – selected by Eliza Nicol, aged 11, of Dirranbandi P-10 State School.
The three black female German Shepherd pups will be called:
• Tara – selected by Isabella and Georgia White, aged 8, of St Peter Chanel;
• Mishka – selected by Class 3T, of Rasmussen State School;
• Peppa – Sarah Dionysius, Class 6, of Mount Sylvia State School.
Ms Spence said the response to the competition had been overwhelming.
“Since the puppies were born seven weeks ago, police have received more than 1,200 entries from primary school students at 241 schools across Queensland,” Ms Spence said.
“All the entries were very creative and at the end of the day Queensland police officers had a hard time selecting a shortlist before they made a random draw of the winning names.”
All five pups will be placed in foster homes where they will be cared for until they reach 12-18 months, at which point they will be housed at Australia’s first purpose-built police dog development complex in Brisbane and taught the right traits to maximise their chance of becoming police dogs.
Ms Spence revealed her household is one of five foster families chosen to look after the pups. One of the four-legged furry recruits will become part of the Minister’s family for the next 12 months or so, before it is assigned to a Police dog handler and starts training.
“These are all very special puppies, who will grow up to be the next generation of police dogs trained to track, search and apprehend,” Ms Spence said.
“Any puppies that show specialist detection skills will undergo further training to locate explosive materials.”
All winners will be listed at www.police.qld.gov.au/puppies on Monday. They will be sent a framed certificate signed by Ms Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, a photo of their named puppy and an ink pawprint.
Media contact: Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287