ATF Canine Officer Joins WFD

The conflagrations lit by cat sightings brought down Bailey's career as a leader dog for the blind.

Sniffing out another opportunity, however, Bailey has emerged from the ashes as an ATF K-9 Officer, Badge No. 513.

Based with the Warsaw Fire Department and housed with handler Fire Marshal Mike Wilson of that department, the 2-year-old black labrador is settling in to his new surroundings.

Friday he and Wilson gave a demonstration of his abilities during the Warsaw Board of Works meeting. The dog was instructed to "seek" the containers with one drop of fuel among several placed on the floor.

"Can detect three drops of fuel four feet deep in fire debris," Wilson said of the animal, explaining dogs have 220 million receptors to detect scent in their noses compared to humans, with 5 million receptors.

Sniffing out a fuel-baited can, Bailey came to a passive alert, sitting until he was rewarded with food, praised and instructed to move on down the line.

"He eats from one place," Wilson said, gesturing with his right hand, "never from a bowl. And he doesn't eat unless he works."

Bailey is one of 60 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms-trained, accelerant detection canine in the United States. He is able to sniff out traces of ignitable liquid odors to one part in one billion.

The team could be called to any fire scene in the U.S., if so ordered, and will attend any fire occurring in the county.

Wilson's investigative responsibilities remain the same. He will determine whether or not a fire was started accidentally or begun on purpose.

When a fire scene has been determined negative for arson Bailey will still receive training on-site.

A former U.S. Army canine trainer, Wilson has obedience-trained three dogs since his military experience.

"Labradors are used in the program because of two reasons," he said. "They love to eat and are very friendly."

Their affection for each other was evident after the demonstration when Wilson took a seat in the back row of the council chambers. Bailey took two seats, one for his back legs and sharing the other with the fire marshal.

"He had a cat problem," Wilson said after the meeting of the canine officer draped across his lap. The potential feline chaser suddenly found something interesting to look at on the other side of the room. "He flunked out of the Blind Dog program because of that interest and the AFT purchased him."

The bond between the two is evident, occurring during training at the ATF facility in Front Royal, Va. in November and December. Bailey arrived first, working with another handler for six weeks. Wilson arrived later for an additional five weeks.

The pair trained with eight other teams. One participant was coming back for his third dog, Wilson said. Bailey will probably be in service for five years, retiring at about age seven.

The dog (and his handler) is required to under go recertification with an AFT chemist once a year.

Bailey is fed four cups of food a day, two cups a day on the weekends. He is weighed twice a week at the veterinarian's office and those weights are reported to the ATF.

"If he loses weight something's wrong. If he gains too much he's eating out of a bowl and may have lost his training."

Wilson and Bailey are available to demonstrate their abilities to civic clubs, schools and for other public events.

For more information call the Warsaw non-emergency number, 372-9502.