SOUTH FORK, Pa. – Just two weeks after undergoing emergency cancer surgery in Pittsburgh, South Fork Borough police dog Bas was back on duty.
The 8-year-old German shepherd had surgery July 8 at BluePearl Pet Hospital. South Fork police Chief Donald Wyar was uncertain if and when his partner would return.
The answer came July 22.
“That night, we got called out for a narcotics search in Blair County. They didn't have a dog,” Wyar said. “Bas alerted to three different locations on the vehicle.”
Police took a woman into custody.
“She said everywhere the dog alerted, there were drugs,” Wyar said. “That confirmed for me that K-9 Bas was back in the groove.”
Canine officer Bas, pronounced “boss,” is no stranger to Cambria County and the surrounding counties. Bas was 2 years old when he arrived in South Fork. Right Hand K-9 of Ogden, Utah, trained the dog, and the National Police Dog Foundation in Camarillo, California, awarded a grant to buy him.
Bas is certified in detecting marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, Wyar said.
“We have a major drug problem in Cambria County,” he said. “We serve municipalities from Richland to Gallitzin and Carrolltown.”
Cresson Borough police Chief Nicholas Jastrab knows the importance of Bas and says seizing drugs is critical to having a safe community.
“I can't even put a number on the amount of drugs taken off the streets,” he said. “I call Donnie for anything I know the dog can handle. I give him a rundown on what's going on and he's en route, no questions asked.”
Bas can be seen at schools making friends or sniffing lockers. He is chummy with children at day care centers. When he needs attention, Bas will nudge a person with his snout.
Conemaugh Township police Chief Tammi Collier said that when searching for drugs or people, Wyar and Bas are a phone call away.
“We've had instances where we've had a traffic stop or need to search for individuals,” Collier said. “We give him a call and he's there.”
Wyar and his partner are available 24/7 and are dispatched through Cambria County 911. Without Bas being available, police departments reach out to Johnstown police or the state police.
Wyar is not sure when Bas will retire. Police dogs might work until age 10 or 11, he said.
Bas is different. He needs chemotherapy cancer treatment every three weeks. He has received two of the needed five treatments.
“I can't sit here and say when I will retire him,” Wyar said. “I tell everybody, especially with this cancer, it's one day at a time.”
To help Bas, a GoFundMe account has been created at www.gofundme.com/f/k9-bas-medical-bills-and-treatment-surgery.
Patrick Buchnowski is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5061. Follow him on Twitter @PatBuchnowskiTD.
