Aggressive canine once a goner, now a prison guard dog

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola

/ nola.com

(CBS/AP) NEW ROADS, La. - A wolf-dog hybrid that seemed headed for a life on the wrong side of the tracks is now working with the law.

The animal named Chief was once ordered destroyed for aggressive behavior, but instead he'll become a guard dog at Louisiana's maximum security prison.

And yes, it's a life sentence.

The Advocate reports that District Judge James Best on Tuesday signed an order turning over Chief to the state prison system, which plans to put the dog to work at the

Louisiana State Penitentiary.

The judge last month had ordered that Chief be euthanized, after his neighbors in Pointe Coupee Parish testified that the dog would frequently escape from his owners' property and terrorize them.

Deputy Warden Bruce Dodd said prison officials read about the dog and decided he could have a productive - and appropriately aggressive existence - guarding the perimeter of the 18,000-acre prison farm at Angola.

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by endrepubs May 3, 2012 1:47 PM EDT: Great story.....beats euthanizing them. They don't require much in benefits like health insurance or salary.; Reply to this comment

by venusvegasvada May 3, 2012 1:34 PM EDT

No picture? Kind of weak CBS.

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by lesserof2evil May 3, 2012 2:05 PM EDT: I think the dog identity is to be kept secret for its own safety :)

by slatep May 3, 2012 1:14 PM EDT

Blame the owner's; not the dogs.!

Almost any dog can be trained to attack.

My son has a really small dog, but he would chew your leg off if he thought you were a danger to my son or his wife and children.

Dogs are the bst urglar alarm you can have.

Somebody who is planning to burglarize your home or commit a home invasion will think two or three times before doing so, because they have no idea what size dog is behind the door.

Drug dealers are notorious for training pit bulls to delay the police from entering their home or apartment.

Even the police recognize this fact, and they will only shoot a dog as a last resort if they cannot deter it with pepper spray etc.

Thuthfully, I have never met a viscious pit bull.

All of them were family pets; with children (even babies) crawling all over them; pulling their ears or tails or poking them in the eye.

The dog's only response was to get up and walk away.

I live in Maryland, and I have to say our legislators are not neccessarily known for making smart decisions.

Years ago; it was German shepherds who were the most feared.

Then it was rottweilers.

If these dogs are dangerous, it's only because their owners taught them to be.

Labeling all pit bulls as dangerous is no different than saying one particular ethnic group is the most dangerous.!

KNOCK IT OFF.!!!

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by cosmic-teapot May 4, 2012 11:47 PM EDT: Perhaps you should try reading the article again. Nowhere does it mention pitbulls. Do you know the difference between a pitbull and a wolf hybrid?


by Flipsarah16 May 15, 2012 6:27 PM EDT: Haha Cosmic-teapot, I was thinking the same thing. Some people just want to sound off at the drop of a hat.


by deenicoledee May 3, 2012 12:44 PM EDT: I'm sure that there was a connection somewhere along the way, between the "prison officals" and the dog. Dog's are euthanized on a regular basis.

No matter. I am still very glad to see a productive use of a canine.; Reply to this comment


by wlhoppers May 3, 2012 11:58 AM EDT: I agree with PeopleFinder and LittleMary and would like to add my own applause.

This is a great decision all the way around. I appreciate the Judge recognizing the potential in the dog and the service it can perform. Wish more judges/people had the same type of rational thinking.; Reply to this comment