By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
April 22, 2008 6:00 AM
NEW BEDFORD — If K-9 officer Joseph Krisnosky is outside his vehicle and needs help, his companion, a German shepherd named Hunter, is only a press of a button away.
Since last year, the city's three K-9 patrol cruisers have been outfitted with a remote control-type system in which the officers carry a pager-like device that can open the vehicles' doors, allowing the dogs to run out and help the officers.
"Let's say I'm on a traffic stop, someone gives me a hard time and they pull out a knife," Mr. Krisnosky said.
"Before there was no way for me to get my dog out of the car. Now, with a pager on my belt, I press a button, a door opens up on the rear passenger side, and Hunter is on his way."
The vehicles' electrical system is a life-saving device for the dogs, as well.
Unofficially called the "hot dog system," the officers' pager sounds an alarm if their vehicles' air conditioning stops while the dogs are inside the cruisers. The vehicles' horns start sounding as a secondary alarm. A fan inside the car also begins running to keep the dogs cool.
The systems were installed seven months ago at a cost of $1,200 to $1,500 for each vehicle. The money was raised through the Coalition for Animals, a local non-profit group dedicated to helping animals. K-9 officers did crime-fighting demonstrations with their dogs to help raise money and awareness.
Animal control officials also credit Michael Knabbe, a city Airport Commission member, with donating the money needed to install the "hot dog" systems.
"Michael donated it out of his own pocket," said Mr. Krisnosky, who is grateful that Hunter will be OK even if his vehicle's air conditioning is not.
"I haven't had to use the system yet, but it's only a matter of time," he said.
yeah, when it is when it works. My hot dog alarm breaks about once a month.
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