GUY DISCUSS PARTNERSHIP FOR LAUREL POLICE DOG

With all the attention given to police dogs and their handlers, it may have
been good timing for one of Laurel Police Department's K-9 teams to make a
public appearance and answer many questions the general citizenry may have
concerning that specialized arm of the LPD.

Gavin Guy, who has been at the LPD for almost two years but has served with
the Lamar County Sheriff's Office and the Richton Police Department
previously, spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Laurel accompanied by his canine
partner Mufasa.

In response to a question posed by one of the club members, Guy said
Mufasa, and all other police dogs are trained to bring down a suspect by
the legs or arms.

"It's not so much a bite as it is a grab and hold procedure they are
taught," said Guy. "Unfortunately, the only thing they have to grab with is
their mouth."

There is no doubt in Guy's mind, and in those who are partnered with canine
officers, theirs is a very dangerous job. One they would rather face, in
many cases, with their four-legged partners.

"When I give him a command, Mufasa doesn't think about having a wife and
kids at home," Guy has said in the past. "He is focused on the job you give
him and he will die doing that job. There are no questions, no concerns, no
hesitation."

Guy, who is married and has three children aged 10, 7, and 4, told the club
members Mufasa is excellent around children and most people.

"When Mufasa comes in the house, the first thing my little girl will do is
jump on his back and ride him around the house like a horse," Guy said.

Mufasa is regularly mistaken as a slender German Shepherd but is actually a
Belgium Malanois.

"This breed is much more hyper and athletic than the shepherds. They are
very fast, very strong and when they are in pursuit of a suspect, they will
launch themselves, getting airborne, and apprehend the individual. This
breed can also do more work than a shepherd," said Guy.

As to the commands Guy gives Mufasa, Guy uses the Dutch language to tell
his partner what to do.

"I don't necessarily have to give a verbal order. His training goes much
deeper than that but he will respond only to me," Guy said.

Guy and Mufasa have been together for almost three years when guy began to
train the canine at seven months old. Since then, Mufasa has earned
numerous awards at police dog competitions like the regional that was held
here in Laurel this past March. During those trials, Mufasa finished as the
top dog and that win has enabled Mufasa to enter into the nationals
upcoming in October as one of the favorites.

"I have to work with him every day in order to keep him focused and sharp,"
Guy said. "But our working partnership didn't start out very well."

Guy recalled that when he first began working with the hard-headed Malanois
when the dog was just seven months old, he was difficult. Mufasa didn't
seem to want to learn even the most basic of commands so Guy decided to
take a trip to Texas to see if he could find another dog to work with.

The week following his trip from Texas, Mufasa sat in his pen as Guy began
work with the German shepherd. The whole time, according to Guy, Mufasa
would whine and whimper. Guy decided to give Mufasa one last chance and
Mufasa did everything perfectly.

"I think he realized he was going to get replaced," Guy said smiling
looking down at the big brown eyes of his partner.

Mufasa is certified by the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA)
and the South Mississippi Canine Association. His list of awards and
certifications is becoming endless thanks to finishing 30th out of 179 dogs
in the nationals last year and placing 11th out of 97 teams at the National
Narcotics Trials in Huntsville, Ala., recently. Guy and Mufasa will be
hitting the road in October for the USPCA Nationals again this year with
one goal in mind.

"We are going to win," Guy said simply. "We've been close before and I
think he is ready to win it all."

Thousands of dollars are spent on each police canine either by the
departments that employ them or by their handlers. In most cases, the cost
of training, recertification and the care of the canine are shared by the
departments and the handlers as the dogs almost always stay at the homes of
their handlers. Guy said despite that, donations and public support is
welcome in helping keep the teams on the streets.

"Mufasa has paid for himself many times over with the number of arrests he
has made, the amount of drugs and drug money confiscated and the number of
cases he has assisted in," Guy said. "We are a team and together we work
very hard to keep your streets and city safe."