Once an abused puppy, new police dog finds important job on UC Berkeley campus

  Credit  Brittany Hosea-Small

Canine Officer Obi, a 14-month-old Springer Spaniel, started working  last month as the University of California, Berkeley’s new explosive-detecting dog.

As a puppy in Wyoming, Obi was abused before a police dog trainer rescued him and brought him to Berkeley. Now Obi lives with UCPD Officer Sal Lopez, who works with the pup all day and takes him home each night.  “He was treated very bad, abused physically, emotionally and deprived of food,” Lopez said.

At first Obi had trouble adjusting to his new life. “He was very skittish, he didn’t want to be petted. Large crowds still overwhelm him at times,” Lopez said. But as he got more human attention and praise, he started coming out of his shell.

Police use Obi to check for explosives before major events like football games or concerts.

Obi spends his weekends playing in the backyard with Lopez, his wife and their 1-year-old son.

“I know my son, every time he wakes up in the morning, he has to go see Obi,” Lopez said. “Obi has a whole big yard.”

But Obi knows it is time for work when Lopez puts on his special police collar and vest.

“With Obi, he has that little extra; it is hard to explain, but when you give him that reward you can tell he is really excited about it, he really appreciates it,” Lopez said. “He does his work with an extra little bit because he knows he’s going to get to play with you after it is over.”

Lopez thinks Obi works extra hard because he was abused as a puppy.

Comments

[Sandee]

You know how I love a happy ending and Obi has finally a happy ending. This post made me smile and go Awww.

I linked this post to Awww Mondays.

Have a fabulous day, Jan. ♥

[Sandee]

I couldn't like it because the URL is too long. Bugger. ♥

[yellowdoggranny]

Makes me want to find the persons who did that to him and beat the crap out if him.

[Linda Brown]

I am so thankful this pup found a much better life. I hate people sometimes...surely there is a spot in that burning inferno in the after-life for jerks that hurt children and animals!

[Foley Monster, Pocket and River Song]

Way to go Obi. You give all rescue dogs hope

[cube]

What a good dog and what a good human, too.

[Granny Annie]

Happy that Obi has an important job.My Slim was abused as a pup and she still flinches sometimes when touched. But she was the easiest dog to train ever and always eager to obey. We never punished her but she still thinks it might be coming and it makes me sad. Frankie, on the other hand, was pampered youth and she is a spoiled, hard to train girl.

[Jodi Stone]

Yay for Obi. One for doing such a great service and two for trusting humans again.

Bastards!

[Monika & Sam]

A happy ending for a talented and clever pup. Bravo.

[Dennis the Vizsla]

hello jan its dennis the vizsla dog hay help them obi wan pupnobi yoo ar there only hope!!! ok bye