Part Three

The Salisbury Township K-9 Unit is in its 13th year of service.

In 2003, citizens, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and Salisbury Township provided funds for the purchase of the township’s first canine patrol and related equipment.

The first canine was Zeus, a German Shepherd from Budapest, Hungary. Senior Patrol Officer Jason Laky, township police department K-9 Officer, and Zeus spent more than one month training at Castle K-9 Academy, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, before going on patrol.

The K-9 Unit report was included in the 16-page annual report released by Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles.

According to the township police annual report, “The K-9 Unit has become a very important part of this department. The Unit was responsible for taking over $40,000 worth of illegal drugs off the street.

“The use of our K-9 Unit has resulted in enhanced officer safety and a reduction in time spent conducting building and area searches.”

Laky and Zeus also served as police department ambassadors.

Zeus retired from active duty in May 2010 and spent the rest of his life with Laky and his family. Zeus died in 2013.

Fonzie joined the K-9 Unit in Fall 2010. Fonzie, after his fifth year of service last year, was retired this year.

Rocket, a Belgian Malinois who turns two in August, is the new K-9 partner. Rocket was imported from Holland and trained at Progressive Canine Academy, Walnutport, Lehigh Township.

In 2015, Laky and Fonzie responded to 41 calls.

The K-9 team provided skill demonstrations at Salisbury Township schools and the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit.

The K-9 team participated in several other programs, including the Salisbury Youth Association annual car show, hosted a canine “Decoy School” and the fifth annual “Salisbury Township Police Association’s K-9 Trials” at Salisbury High School, with 30 K-9 teams participating. The trials has raised more than $19,000 to assist families of fallen police officers and to purchase ballistic vests for police canines in the Lehigh Valley.

Stated the report: “Officer Laky has spent many hours planning, developing and implementing the K-9 program. He has given up much of his personal life to provide loving care 24 hours a day for his K-9 partners.

“Officer Laky’s dedication to Zeus, Fonzie and the Salisbury Township Police Department’s K-9 program has been outstanding. Officer Laky is committed to spend the long days and countless hours required to keep our K-9 Unit prepared and ready to take on any challenge.”

Laky is certified as a judge with the National Canine Association and has assisted with the certification process for K-9 teams throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond for the past three years.

Animal Control Report

Salisbury Township Animal Control Officer Charles Durner Jr. included his 2015 report in the police department report:

Dogs running at large complaints: 35

Dogs apprehended: 33

Dogs returned to owner: 15

Dogs transported to Humane Society: 24

Barking dog complaints: 9

Cats running at large: 51

Cats apprehended: 51

Cats returned to owners: 3

Cats transported to Humane Society: 48

Animal complaints (other): 67

Dead animal disposal: 71

Citations issued: 7

Warning letters sent: 21

Animal Control Officer hours: 130

Animal Control Officer vehicle miles: 5,902

Hunting Permits

There were three junior hunting permits issued to nonresidents in 2015.

Archery Permits

There were 155 archery permits issues, with 126 to nonresidents and 29 to residents in 2015.

Since 2004, Salisbury Township has permitted a junior hunting program (shotgun only; deer only) and deer hunting (archery only) in Walking Purchase Park.