Warwick police dog gets lifesaving vest

ALBANY — The next time “Stitch” is out in the field, hard at work on a drug trafficking case or searching for a missing person, he’ll be doing it with some new, life-saving protection now that the police dog will be wearing a brand new bulletproof vest he received last week from an Albany charity.

Stitch, a 3 1/2-year-old Belgian malinois who, along with his handler, Maj. Michael Smith, has been on the job since 2013 and has done his service without the benefit of a vest.

“I’ve been trying to find a vest for him for a couple of years, but they’re so expensive,” said Smith. “Now my prayers have been answered. I can’t extend enough gratitude to the folks that made this happen.”

Those folks Smith wants to thank are the supporters of Barney’s Corner, a nonprofit extension of Albany’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church that provides various kinds of animal-related assistance where needed.

According to Lois Hunkele, who serves on the organization’s executive committee, the outreach activity began shortly after Barney’s Corner, which is actually a place in the church’s memorial garden, was dedicated in 2011.

“Barney’s Corner’s sole purpose was a place for the scattering of pets’ ashes,” said Hunkele. “When monetary gifts were given to Barney’s Corner for the memory of a pet whose ashes were scattered there, the committee decided to use the money to aid animals.”

Since then, Barney’s Corner has given funds to organizations such as the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the Ahimsa House and has helped establish the annual Barney’s Run for Warriors, which assists veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder find service dogs.

“At St. Paul’s, we feel the need to reach into the community and fill various needs,” said Hunkele. “This year we wanted to provide a bulletproof vest for a local K9 unit and Stitch was the right fit. It’s an extra proud moment when gifts from Barney’s Corner can assist our animal friends.”

Smith said it was also a proud moment for him when he slipped the new vest onto his partner, which he purchased on his own two years ago for $6,500.

Even though Smith, with his previous companion, “Castor,” who died of natural causes in 2012, started the K9 program in Warwick in 2009, budget constraints always prevented the purchase of a vest.

With that problem out of the way, Smith said he’ll feel better each time he and Stitch are working, because he knows his good friend will be protected.

“It’s a dangerous job that we do, and he needs protection,” said Smith. “He’s very loyal, and he needs the vest as much as anyone else. So I’m very appreciative. I couldn’t begin to extend enough thank-yous to all the people who donated and have helped with this. I’m very, very thankful.”

File Photo: Lois Hunkele