Fayette County HOMES has gone to the dogs, police dogs that is…

The culmination of the Fayette County HOMES 2009–2010 Program had an interesting twist this year. In celebration of Rebekka Kiefer's upcoming graduation and her venture off to college to become a veterinarian, we had two very special guests. K-9 Trainer/Handler and Uniontown Police Officer Mike Garrow, Sr. and his partner Leonidas (Leo), his Dutch Shepherd Police Dog, performed a K-9 demonstration.

Mr. Garrow had been concerned that the visually impaired students could not appreciate Leo's demonstration because they could not see it. So, as he put Leo through his training, one of the teachers relayed to the students what was happening. When Leo completed each command the students clapped and cheered the duo on. The students asked a lot of good questions at the end of the demonstration, and it was obvious they truly enjoyed the visit.

The most memorable part of the event was when one of the totally blind students asked if he could touch Leo. After Officer Garrow placed Leo in front of him, this totally blind student placed his hands on Leo and moved them to his face. His hands began to feel Leo from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. He then told the group, “Oh, he’s tall…his coat's short…his ears stand up…he's skinny.” It was amazing to watch this student get a mental picture of Leo by using only his sense of touch. Officer Garrow said, “It was the most rewarding demonstration that I have ever performed.”