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 Viy, a
2 year old German shepherd from Hungary, joined the Page County Sheriff's
Office in October, 2004.
Viy (pronounced Vee) stays with his partner and handler, Deputy
Curtis Long, 24 hours a day, and his training is an ongoing process. Viy
and Long trained for approximately 12 weeks in a program in Orange
County and Viy graduated at the top of his class from K-9 school. They
now train on a bi-weekly basis.
Viy is trained for narcotics detection, tracking, article search, and
handler protection. Says Long, "The dog can find places that we would
never think of looking for drugs." He can be used in drug raids with the
drug task force, traffic stops, and locker or building searches. He can
detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy. Viy can also be of
assistance when weapons used during a crime are being searched for, and
for breaking and entering cases. Whenever Viy is released from his
kennel, he sniffs out nearby vehicles to make sure there are no drugs
around. "He just thinks it's time to go to work. Plus, he gets a reward
every time he finds drugs," said Long. He also earns a toy ball to play
with. He likes to play just like any other dog. Long also says, "He is
always so alert, but he's also a gentle dog. He's like a regular house
pet."
Viy can be used as a working K-9 for 8-12 years.
Viy, along with the Page County Sheriff's Office,
wishes to thank the following businesses and organizations for helping
donate monies for his purchase:
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