Fall of 1998 I was on patrol on Sicard Hollow Road near Lake Purdy when I accidently ran up on a poaching incident. I drove up on a fella hiding in the ditch, waiting for his buddy to pick him up. I slammed on the brakes and bailed..he took off in the dark...I gave chase but lost him pretty quick. I was pizzed, bad pizzed. I hate letting a near caught poacher get clean away. I vowed it would not continue to happen......

I got on the internet and researched GW K-9 dogs, I called every state around us and talked to their Chief, or head K-9 trainers. I called a buddy in La, ex La GW and current K-9 handler for a local PD. He had one of the premier Belgian Malinois K-9 dogs in the country...and he had puppies on the way...

July 1999 I spent a week in Mandeville La playing with puppies, finally picked a female. I went back to get her at seven weeks of age. Quickly named her Taz, because she was one more Tasmanian Devil when she was young. I owned NO shirts that wern't torn..usually up around the shoulder.

I immediately started obedience training...she was a fast learner and you didn't have to tell her anything twice. She started riding with me that deer season, along with new GW Chris Lewis. Taz spent most of the riding time sneaking up on Chris and face licking him.

In Jan Chris and I answered a poaching complaint near Shelby, in south Shelby Co. As we approached the poachers vehicle on foot we surprised three of them and they ran. I hollered "State Police, stop or I'll send the dog"...Taz was raising sand, high pitch yelping to get after them. The sound of running stopped and a voice came out of the dark..."don't send the dog, we give up"...haha first catch for her. Chris quit giving her a hard time.....she was 6 months old.