Michigan K9 kennel has global success

By Paul Henderson Lansing State Journal EATON RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- William Snell Pretty Shield never had a partner in his nine years on the tribal police force in central Montana. Not of the human kind, anyway. Now, he's opting for the canine variety -- the kind found at an Eaton Rapids kennel that specializes in K9 training. "We are solo," Snell Pretty Shield, a sergeant with the Fort Belknap Tribal Police, told the Lansing State Journal. "We don't have any partners unless a car breaks down and somebody has to ride with us." Snell Pretty Shield has been working with Hunter, a German shepherd, at the Mid-Michigan Kennels the past four weeks. In that short span, the phrase "man's best friend" comes to mind. "We've got a good bond with each other," said Snell Pretty Shield, who only knew Hunter a day prior to the program. Mid-Michigan Kennels, owned by Mike Morgan, is a 16-year-old kennel specializing in narcotics and bomb detections, trailing and tracking and handler protection and suspect apprehension. Morgan, an Army veteran and former dog handler for the DeWitt Township police department, has seen his business grow from three local clients to a global operation that has trained more than 300 dogs and has more than 25 clients. "We've got 25 bomb dogs in Manila International Airport, I've got a bomb and a drug dog in Thailand," Morgan said. "They come from all over the country and all over the world." Morgan started his business in 1997 after 24 years in the army and after being a dog handler for the DeWitt Township Police department. He said he has been able to grow the business by building a good reputation and through marketing efforts. "When I first told my wife I was gonna start Mid-Michigan Kennels, she said 'oh that's nice' you know," he joked. Morgan buys most of the German shepherds he and his staff train from Poland when they are about 15 months old. He also looks for other breeds such as Belgian and Dutch shepherds. Morgan said he prefers dogs from Europe because they are more socialized than their American counterparts. "Their puppies are out in the world, being on trains, buses and in restaurants; socializing the heck out of them," he said. "All my dogs are very social and can be trusted with schoolchildren, but at the same time can go take down the bad guy." But Morgan also finds some of his dogs in Michigan. The Labradors in his training program come from Paws with a Cause in Wayland, a nonprofit organization that trains service dogs. Morgan said he limits his class sizes to 10 officers in order to work closer with the dogs and officers. "When you have 30 guys stacked up to do training, your dog might get out of the car once the entire day," he said. Morgan and his staff train the dogs at several sites in Eaton Rapids, including the industrial park, former Northwestern Elementary School and VFW Home for Children. Morgan also has a 5,000-square-foot indoor facility in Eaton Rapids, where officers are trained in Fourth Amendment rights and first aid. About a year ago, Hunter trained at Mid-Michigan Kennels with a different police officer. When Hunter returned to Montana with his owner was offered a new job. "Hunter has been on idle for about eight months," said Snell Pretty Shield. "He has just been a yard dog." Now, the 2-year-old German shepherd finds himself back to where it all started, working on drug detection, tracking and trailing and suspect apprehension and officer protection. "I think it is just gonna be fun working together with him," Snell Pretty Shield said. Hunter and Snell Pretty Shield have a week left in the five-week program. Still, it's not all about work. "Off the clock, we just play," Snell Pretty Shield said. "When I'm off duty, he's off duty, I just let him be a dog." Morgan said the best thing about owning the Mid-Michigan Kennels is watching the growth between the dog and the officer. "(I like) taking them (dogs) from that piece of clay (and) in five weeks, watching this handler and dog become this nice unit and team where there is this mutual trust and respect," Morgan said. Published: Tue, Jun 4, 2013