Police Department — Canine Unit

Meet Pogo, a one-year-old mixed rescue, the newest recruit was sworn in at 5 p.m. April 11 as a single-purpose narcotics detection dog at the Poland Township Police Department.

Pogo began her young life far from K-9 cruisers. She started as a stray in Tennessee. Poland Township Police Chief Greg Wilson had been searching for the past year for a police canine, which was when his fiancee Cheri stumbled upon The Throw Away Dog Project. This Philadelphia-based rescue company helps find the dog’s new purposes.

According to the Throw Away Project, Pogo was found near a construction site in Tennessee. Before coming to Ohio, Pogo was already being utilized by Global K9 Protection Services as a ‘pack dog.’ Soon, Pogo was selected by the Throw Away Project as the perfect fit for Chief Wilson and the officers in Poland Township.

“She’s going to be a community dog. She’s going to be in our parade. She’s going to be in our Safety Forces Day. She’s going to be visiting the school, visiting with the kids,” Wilson Chief Wilson said.