THE LOVE AND DEVOTION OF A K-9 DOG

Here are some excerpts from a wonderful story by Breck Porter, editor of The Police News:
　
HANNAH AND THE POLICE DOG
The Real Meaning of Puppy Love
　
By Breck Porter
　
The Police News
June 27, 2010
　
"And the lion shall lie down with the lamb."
　
Although the phrase of "the lion shall lie down with the lamb" is one of the more popular quotes from the Bible, in the King James Version it's the wolf that dwells with the lamb, and it's a leopard that lies down with a kid, and "the calf and the young lion and the fatling together." (Isaiah 11:6)
　
But in Galveston, there is a Belgian Malanois named Qui, a retired police dog, that has gone paw to toe with some of the most violent crooks but now lies down with the 2-year old daughter of his former police officer partner.
　
It's a remarkable story of the love of an animal that was trained for the most violent confrontations, for a darling little girl who sometimes thinks the dog actually speaks to her.
　
These dogs have been especially trained to detect drugs, explosives, and firearms. Although German Shepherds were first used, law enforcement the world over now use Belgian Malinois dogs from Holland. Known for their adaptability to new climates and environments and their work drive, these dogs are exceptional members of law enforcement. They generally work 7-11 years and grow to an average 75 pounds. At night, after a busy day's work, they go home with their handlers, where they are a part of the family.
　
In August 2007 the Powers family welcomed a new addition to their home, a baby girl, Hannah. From the first time he heard a cry or whimper from Hannah, Qui became her partner, her protector and constant companion, to the point that Chad Powers came to wonder if Qui's allegiance had transferred from him to Hannah. They developed a bond that is unbreakable to this day.
　
'Qui' was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Louisiana where as a pup he was trained for a life of sniffing out crooks, creeping around inside dark buildings in search of burglars, riding hour upon hour in the backseat of a police patrol car, or confronting an armed attacker threatening his master and police partner.
　
After training Qui was acquired by the Galveston Police Department and assigned to Officer Lucio Valdez. When Valdez was called to active military duty, Qui partnered with Sgt. Joel Caldwell, a devoted animal lover who is generally recognized in the police profession as the 'go to guy' in cases involving animals.
　
Qui and Caldwell worked together for two years until Caldwell was promoted to Lieutenant. Then his assignment became a supervisory one which meant Qui would get a new partner. In 2005 Qui met his new partner, Officer Chad Powers, and they would work together on the graveyard shift for the next five years, until Qui's retirement.
　
In early 2010 Qui was forced into retirement with the other K-9's in the Galveston Police Department. The city's economy began taking a toll on many city services including some in the police department. The K-9 Unit was cut and Qui retired to civilian life in the Power's household. It was time for Qui to retire anyway. He had a long and distinguished career in the Galveston Police Department.
　
Amanda Powers told us, "I was scared of him at first because he had a real bad reputation so when he came to live with us I'd give him doggie treats one after another just so he'd like me.
　
"He's petrified of thunder, scared to death of thunder. In one thunder storm he tore the blinds down from the windows. In the last thunder storm we had, Hannah had just started sleeping in her own room, and this came straight from this 2 year olds mouth. She said she was sleeping in her bed and the thunder started and Qui came to her, put his face in her face and asked her if she was okay then lay down beside her." Child imagination we all understand.
　
"Normally he paces the hallway, drooling when he hears thunder, but this time when I looked in on Hannah there he was in bed with her. He laid in bed right next to her throughout the entire storm, not pacing or drooling."
　
To describe the love and devotion for each other between Qui and Hannah Powers would be impossible on any number of pages. But it's there, and it's real, and it's strikingly apparent to anyone who sees them.