The newest member of Meridian Township Police Department comes straight from the Netherlands and listens to all her commands in Dutch.
Full of energy and generous with her kisses, 2-year-old Asta is the new township police dog.
Asta, a Belgian Malinois, was flown in after a dog trainer in the Netherlands recommended her to Brian Gregory, vice president of Northern Michigan K-9.
After two months of training, Asta is worth about $10,000. She is trained to search for both drugs and people.
“That’s good guys and bad guys,” Gregory said. “Children, Alzheimer’s patients, anybody that turns up missing.”
Each community is looking for a different type of dog, Gregory said. Meridian Township was hoping for a social dog and Asta seems to meet the requirement.
“She’s very sweet and loves people,” Meridian Township officer Brian Canen said.
Canen went through an interview process and was chosen to be Asta’s partner. Canen also spent a month in training with Asta, learning how to conduct searches and learning Dutch so he could command her.
The two patrol the roads together five days a week, and Asta lives with Canen.
“I spend more time with her than I do my fiancee,” Canen said.
But Asta does a lot more than just sit in a car all day. Canen runs her through obstacle courses to keep her in shape and relatively calm.
“Otherwise she would bounce off the walls,” he said.
Asta also has performed 20 drug searches since she started working in June, Canen said.
“She can do it a lot quicker than we can,” he said. “She has a better nose.”
Although Canen provides her a home, the township pays for Asta’s food and medical bills, as well as two days of training each month.
“It keeps her up-to-date and fresh,” he said. “We’re still a new partnership, still getting to know each other and learning.”
Asta is replacing Bandit, who is retiring after seven years as the township’s police dog, Lt. Tom Couling said.
Like Bandit, Asta also provides assistance for other agencies in the area, including the East Lansing Police Department when she’s needed, Canen said.
“I bring her in for interaction with the officers often,” he said. “She’s Miss Popular lately.”
Despite her popularity with the other officers, Asta is trained to protect Canen at any cost. Loyalty is what makes the two of them a great team, Canen said.
“She would give her life for me without thinking twice,” he said.
