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The Cleveland Jewish news

02-17-04 Four-legged recruits have a nose for bomb

by Arlene Fine, Staff Reporter

If someone says Israel's war on terrorism is going to the dogs - that would be technically correct.

"Pups for Peace," a squadron of bomb-sniffing dogs, provides the newest warriors on the Israeli security front.

Pups for Peace was founded by Glenn Yago, 53, a Los Angeles economist. He initiated the program in April 2002 after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb that killed 29 Israelis and injured over 100 in the Park Hotel in Netanya during a Passover seder.

With the assistance of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and private funders, the energetic, motivated Yago formed Pups for Peace. The first training facility was in Sylmar, Calif., and was run by Michael Herstik, a leading expert on training explosives-detecting dogs. Herstik had worked for the U.S. military and the Los Angeles Police Department.

In a year-and-a-half, Pups for Peace raised $2.5 million. The funds were used to effectively train 116 dogs and handlers.

Among the leading Cleveland fund raisers and proponents for the project are brothers Harry and Marvin Friedman, past chairmen of the Cleveland Friends of the Israeli Defense Force.

In December 2003, the entire Pups for Peace operation moved to a kibbutz in southern Golan.

"Moving Pups for Peace to Israel enables us to take advantage of Israeli expertise in this area, provides at least 25 new jobs for handlers and trainers, and gives a boost to the Israeli economy," says Harry Friedman.

Demand for the counter-terrorism dogs is high. "Right now, Pups for Peace has an emergency request from the Ministry of Transportation and Egged Bus Company to supply 80 dogs and train 40 handlers," says Friedman. "They know these trained animals are powerful terrorist deterrents."

The highly identifiable dogs, who sport Pups for Peace vests, are extremely effective in malls, airports, bus terminals, markets and just about any other place where crowds gather. They are trained to function in areas with lots of people milling about, and with loud voices and noises.

Because each dog has a 30-minute attention span, the animals work in regimented 30-minute shifts. After they have been out sniffing for bombs and explosives for a half-hour, the dogs go to an air-conditioned kennel area and rest for the next 30 minutes.

Friedman, who admits to becoming an instant expert on bomb-sniffing dogs, says the high-energy breeds most favored for this kind of work include Labradors, German and Belgian shepherds, and Jack Russell terriers.

"These are not attack dogs, but intelligent, highly motivated animals with a superior sense of smell that are being trained to save innocent lives," says Friedman. "And little dogs like the Jack Russells are great for getting into the smaller spaces."

It costs $10,000 to purchase, transport and train each counter-terrorism dog. Prior to being sent on active duty, every canine goes through an intensive three-month training period.

"Pups for Peace has won the hearts of children, many of whom are making a donation to the program in honor of their b'nai mitzvah," says Friedman. Schools and organizations also have held fund raisers to adopt these dogs.

The Friedmans named their own Pups for Peace dog Toozig in memory of their father's dog.

"We plan to visit Toozig on our next trip to Israel," says Friedman.

For more information about Pups for Peace, call 216-591-1100, 800-669-8930 or visit their Web site at www.pupsforpeace.org.

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