FORMER POLICE DOG IS RECOVERING

Although he isn't getting around like he used to, Greif, the Cape Girardeau police dog, is settling into his retirement.

Greif was seriously injured on March 12, when he was struck by a car on Morgan Oak as he pursued a fleeing drug suspect.

The dog incurred severe nerve damage in his front left leg, rendering the limb virtually useless to the animal.

On June 2, after attempts to save his leg had failed, a veterinarian in Sikeston performed the surgery to amputate the leg at the shoulder.

An infection set in just days after the surgery, forcing Greif's companion and former partner, Officer Dennis Horn, to return the dog to the Murray Lane Animal Hospital.

After being "spoiled" for a week by his veterinarian Peggy Fisher, Greif was returned home last Sunday.

"He's got his strength back and he's running through the yard like he used to," said Horn. "He falls down every once and awhile and has trouble turning corners, but once he gets going straight, he can fly."

Horn took the 8-year-old dog to an animal hospital in Columbia several weeks after the accident, where he was told that the dog's leg could not be saved.

"They ran some tests on him and basically told me nothing could be done," said Horn. "He was starting to get sores on his left leg, so we decided that it was better that we take it off."

But while Greif enjoys his retirement, the police department is searching for a replacement dog. One of the three dogs from Czechoslovakia will be chosen by the department.

When the new dog is trained and ready to ride with Horn, Greif will be officially retired in a special ceremony at the department.

The injured police dog was honored at the Cape Girardeau Optimist Respect for Law day last month, a ceremony that bestowed Greif a medal with his name inscribed on back.

"He's just getting all kinds of attention now," said Horn. "(Reserve Officer) Mike Ervin had his dog Dux at Riverfest, and everyone was coming up to him asking if that was Greif.

"Everybody knows about what happened and I have people asking about him all the time," said Horn. "I tell them he's living the good life at home."

Greif was purchased in 1991 with funds from an anti-drug grant from the Cape Girardeau school system. He was the first police dog the Cape Girardeau Police Department had on its roster.

To repay the schools for their generosity, Horn and Greif visited classrooms throughout the district, Horn talking about the dog's abilities, Greif endearing himself to the children with his good nature and drug-sniffing capabilities.

Greif's replacement will be paid for by the department, but Horn said he and the new dog will still be at the beck and call of all the schools.

"The new dog will come with a little bit of training," said Horn. "There's a lot of work we're going to have to do with him before he's ready to patrol. It will all depend on the dog."

Even though the replacement dog will live in a kennel at Horn's house, it will not replace his first partner in his heart.

"Greif's back to his old self again," said Horn. "He's been bugging me for the last three or four days to go out and play with him. Just like before."