Mutts Strut for Good Cause

By RAY REBMANN
CAPE MAY—This Victorian resort’s beachfront Promenade went to the dogs on Sept. 28. An invasion of four-legged strollers in all shapes and sizes paraded proudly in the on again, off again autumn sunshine. They walked with a purpose. Or rather, they strutted.
Cape May County Dog Obedience Training Club (CMCDOTC) sponsored its 7th annual Mutt Strut and, once again, half the money raised by dog owners, donating a buck a paw (and foot) for the privilege of walking the Promenade, went to purchase protective vests for some very important members of the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit.
Last year, the pooch parade raised $2,900. This year’s goal, according to organizers, is to raise enough to “buy three vests.”
According to Sgt. Beth Perednas, the K-9 unit currently consists of nine dogs and five officers, including herself. Several members of the unit visited the Promenade during this year’s strut and conducted two K-9 demos on the steps of Cape May’s new convention center.
An appreciative crowd watched as Bronco, a 9-year-old yellow Labrador performed several seek-and-find missions. He was followed by Jax, a Belgian Malinois, who had the audience oohing and aahing as he helped apprehend a “criminal,” played by officer Nolan Harris.
“Obedience is essential,” Perednas stressed. “We ask these dogs to do a lot. Maturity, good nerve, and flexibility are desirable traits.”
The protective vests are important because the K-9 is typically utilized in high risk situations. The dogs are able to get in where human officers cannot. The dogs are often sent ahead at a crime scene to search for suspects.
“The dogs are officers,” Perednas pointed out. “The only difference is when they make arrests, they use mouths instead of hands.”
Typically, K-9 recruits join the unit when they’re young. “We like to get them at 11-18 months,” said Perednas.
Two “pups” are currently in training at the “Sonny” Burke Police K-9 Academy in Corbin City. “One will eventually be used for explosives detection, the other for narcotics,” Perednas said.
The dogs first undergo 12 weeks of training at “scent school” before they begin patrol training, matched with a partner they’ll work with as part of an enduring team.
In addition to Perednas and Harris, the county’s K-9 officers are Russ Norcross, Randy Mistic, and Jose Gomez. The dog breeds employed by the unit currently include bloodhound, Belgian Malinois, Dutch shepherd, and yellow Labradors.
CMCDOTC, the Mutt Strut sponsor, has been conducting dog training classes for more than 30 years. Part of the proceeds raised at the event help fund a wide range of training classes and community outreach activities the club offers throughout the year, including weekly classes for all levels of dog obedience held at the West Cape May fire house.
According to Carolyn MacMullen, a board member and trainer, the club currently has about 40 active members. The connection between the club and the K-9 unit was established several years ago when the latter was developing an agility course at its Crest Haven Complex K-9 facility.
Home Depot donated materials and volunteers built the course. MacMullen and other members of the club chipped in their time and work applying a new paint job. Wanting to do more, the club proposed making a Christmas donation to the unit, which led to the idea of using the popular Mutt Strut as a fundraiser.
For more information about training classes, email cmcdotc@comcast.net.