Dog Lovers' Donation Aims To Keep Douglas County K9 Cop Safe

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Peggy and Phil Detore love dogs and want to protect them. It was no surprise then, when the couple saw Neo, the newest Douglas County K9 cop, and they wanted to make sure he stayed safe.

The couple, who live in Douglasville, saw the story of Neo's arrival on Patch and wanted to make sure the dog took on his new duties with a protective vest. Patch connected the couple to the Sheriff's Office and after a couple of months, the vest became a reality.

In a private ceremony Thursday, Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds and K9 handler Deputy Ryan Cadwell, thanked Peggy and Phil for their generous donation.

"This is what I want all of my citizens to do in Douglas County," the Sheriff said, "help the Sheriff, assist the Sheriff, and make Douglas County a better place to work, live and play. And by them donating the vest to our dog, they assist us in keeping the neighborhood more safe. Now the dog's all ready to do the things he could not have done without that vest. So we want to thank [Peggy and Phil] so much."

Peggy and Phil say they've always loved dogs. The couple met in high school but have only been married for four years.

"We joke that we took a 45-year break," Phil said.

The last dogs Phil and Peggy owned were black labs.

"After we do some traveling, we're going to get a dog again," Peggy explained.

In the mean time, they'll be keeping their eye on Neo.

"I saw on the Douglasville Patch, that Neo, the canine, had joined the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, and for some reason, I just looked at that dog's picture and thought, I wonder if he has a bullet-proof vest," she said.

The couple said that every time they hear about a K9 involved in an arrest on the news, they will be thinking of their investment in Neo.

"All dogs deserve to be safe," Peggy said.

Commonly referred to as a bullet-proof vest, the unique clothing item was custom made for Neo, after his exact measurements were taken. Cadwell said the vest is the same make and model as other Douglas County Sheriff's deputies wear. The cost of the vest was $1,000.

Currently, two other Douglas County K9s do not have vests. Cadwell said normally, the Sheriff's Office relies on the public to donate vests but the Sheriff's Office is looking at the possibility of putting the equipment in the annual budget.

New K9 Deputy Neo joined the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in March. He's a two-year old Belgian Malinois from Poland.

Neo's skills include narcotics detection, tracking and apprehension, handler protection, and evidence recovery. K9 Neo was utilized on his first night of service for a search of a vehicle which resulted in a drug arrest.

RELATED:
New K9 Deputy Neo Joins The Douglas County Force

Photo courtesy Peggy Detore
Video by Patch Editor John Barker