PUT-IN-BAY – Popular with kids, residents and vacationers, Ottawa County Sheriff's deputy Gary Allred knows his partner, K-9 Storm, is the one who gathers all pf the attention.
“Storm is the superstar on the island. He is a 2-year-old purebred German Shepherd, straight from Germany,” Allred said. "Kids love him."
The newest member of the smallest Ottawa County Sheriff's Office locations, Storm was paired with Allred in November and they started on the island’s patrol in January.
“Storm is one of four dogs with Ottawa County. We're specifically assigned out here, to the islands,” Allred said.
Storm, who is a few weeks shy of his second birthday, is highly trained.
“He's a dual-purpose K-9. He's trained in tracking, article searches, handler protection and narcotics. He's trained in the odors of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and crack cocaine,” Allred said.
Bilingual and highly trained K-9
While Storm doesn’t have the vocabulary of his partner, he energetically communicates with Allred in all the common physical ways, but he also is bilingual, having been trained in Germany.
“We have worked obedience with him. We actually have six dogs, with two assigned in the schools, and four on patrol,” Allred said. “He’s assigned to patrol. One of the dogs is assigned to the detective bureau, and is in the Sheriff’s Office, in Port Clinton.”
Despite his black color, he has a personality that is delightfully bright and sunny when interacting with the public, especially children, making him very popular, especially with the students who live on the South Bass Island.
“He is my partner. When I go off the island, on my days off, he goes with me. He’s got a unique personality. He’s a very friendly dog, but he can actually flip a switch and we can utilize him, if we need to,” Allred said.
How it works when Storm is on the job
Allred explained Storm’s training in more detail, as Storm’s bright personality contrasts with his ability to take down a person, which can be confusing to some people.
“He’s trained in reasonable force, but if I send him to take down a perpetrator, as long as that perpetrator stops, puts down his hands up and obeys my commands, the dog will just sit in front of him,” Allred said. “It does stop people. In fact, when I get him out of the car, that can be enough deterrent to get cooperation.”
It’s definitely a unique program and "the island has been quite accepting of him. He’s an asset. We do a safety public announcement with the Chamber of Commerce. With their social media, they do ‘Sunday with Storm,’” Allred said.
They have done rules and regulations with the island dog park, golf cart safety, reminders against drinking and driving, and then it’s published.
From a recent meme, Storm says, “Put-in-Bay is a dog friendly island!”
The Facebook page is Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau.
"Seems to be a big hit. Everybody likes it," Allred said.
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