Police dogs are an important part of policing and a great boon to RCMP public relations.
Every year, thousands of kids across the country get a chance to name the new puppies the RCMP will train over the next two years. This year, the force received more than 21,000 entries.
“Everyone at the Centre was blown away by not only the number, but also the creativity of all the entries,” said Insp. André Lemyre, the officer in charge of police dog services. “Congratulations to the 13 winners and my sincere thanks to every boy and girl who suggested a name.”
This year all the names had to start with the letter H and Lemyre chose one winner from each province and territory.
Saskatchewan’s representative was the name Herc from Jaidyn Danilkewich of Meadow Lake.
The other winning entries were Haley: Ataya (Inuvik, NWT); Hammer (Fort McMurray, AB); Hanna (Whitehorse, Yukon); Haven (Kensington, PE.); Hawk (Fredericton, NB); Hero (Prince George, B.C.); Hector (Rossburn, MB); Hitch (Conne River, N.L.); Hooper (Ingonish, N.S.); Hope (Milton, Ont.); Hulk (La Prairie, Que.); and Hunter (Kugluktuk, Nunavut).
Each of the winners will receive a certificate, an 8×10-inch laminated photo of the puppy they named, a plush German Shepherd toy dog named Justice and an RCMP cap.
Police dogs search for missing or lost people, track and apprehend criminals, remove illicit drugs from the streets, detect explosives and search for and recover evidence used in crimes.
Not all the puppies will graduate from training. Those that do not are adopted out.
