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Police dog Daxa tracks down BOB Award

Aug 9, 2018 | 5:00 PM

A lady who is very popular with all but a select few in Prince Albert will be one of the stars of the show as she walks the red carpet at next month’s BOB Awards.

German Shepherd Daxa has been named Prince Albert’s Best Police Officer by paNOW‘s readers, making the law-enforcing pooch the first non-human to win one of the prestigious awards that recognize the city’s ‘Best Of The Best.’

“It’s awesome for Daxa to get nominated and then get the votes to win the BOB Award,” Daxa’s handler Constable Kelsey Bighetty told paNOW. “I think it’s kind of cool for a four-legged animal to win for Best Police Officer, and it shows she has a lot of fans. People enjoy having her around and working the streets of P.A.”

Daxa’s exploits are well-chronicled in paNOW’s news coverage and garner plenty of positive reactions from readers whenever she helps chase down a criminal or sniff out evidence.

“The majority of people in P.A. have animals, like everywhere else, and people love dogs, especially German Shepherds who perform such a special service,” Bighetty said. “They’re a huge asset for us and they solve crimes and catch the bad guys.”

Daxa, along with fellow K-9 Feebe, are the two dogs currently serving with the P.A. Police Service. Bighetty said both dogs are on the front line of some tough work.

“They’re always the first to deal with the criminal and, ultimately, they keep our officers safe when we go into a building or we’re following a track.”

Daxa and her handler have been a team for five years and she had her seventh birthday this week, which means retirement is coming up soon, according to Bighetty. He said the BOB Award just might be the perfect way to wrap up a canine career. Daxa will remain with him as a pet once she officially retires.

“With all the support, love, and recognition for these dogs, we’ll make an appearance [at the Bob Awards] for sure,” he said. “I’ll take Daxa there and maybe do a short demo and show her off to the public.” 

If there are a few paw prints left on the red carpet, no one is going to complain.

 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertNOW