But when it comes to sniffing out clues for missing children or trying to track down a suspect's last whereabouts, one canine in particular gets the call. That would be Buddy, a drooling, droopy-eyed bloodhound. Badge No. 35.

After six years of doggedly determined service, Buddy is getting close to retirement age, said his owner and handler, Officer Patrick Mahanay. Buddy won't retire for some months yet, but the police department is raising money to buy another bloodhound or two now so they have enough time to train the dogs' new handlers before Buddy leaves the force.

That's right. The handlers need the training, not so much the dogs, said Mahanay, who speaks from personal experience.

"(Buddy) knew what he was doing. The training is for the handler, to recognize the signs from the dog, to know if you are getting closer, or getting off the track, or whatever," Mahanay said.

Lt. Kevin Wiley first got the idea for bringing a bloodhound to the Oakland Police Department to assist with missing persons cases in 1997, after seeing a demonstration of the breeds' prowess and hearing about a bloodhound who in 1993 had tracked a 5-year-old girl's scent for 14 miles before collapsing.

Wiley asked Mahanay, who had recently joined the missing persons unit, if he liked dogs. In September 1997, Mahanay purchased a puppy from a breeder in Kansas and set about training him with help from the Alameda Police Department. In January 1998, he pitched the idea to then-Oakland Police Chief Joseph Samuels.

Mahanay said the whole idea wasn't a hard sell, to him or the department, especially after he saw what the dogs could do, and how one might help solve cases.

"Scent is something that everybody leaves behind at a crime scene," Mahanay said. "A person may not leave fingerprints or other (clues), but they'll always leave their smell."

Bloodhounds are bred as hunting and tracking dogs, and their sense of smell is significantly greater than that of German shepherds or other breeds normally used for police work.

Buddy started out with missing kids and senior citizens, and then graduated to crime scenes after Mahanay got more adept at reading his signals. Buddy helped police nab a flasher in Joaquin Miller Park by tracking his scent to the spot where he always returned after a flashing episode. Buddy also helped track a suspect involved in a Brinks armored car robbery and in a recent officer-involved shooting.

Although Mahanay will help with the initial training, he won't team up with a new dog. Handlers have to be able to follow wherever the dog's nose takes him, and that could be miles. Like Buddy, Mahanay said he's slowing down a little too much for that. Bloodhounds have an average life span of six to eight years, and Buddy will be seven in May. Although he'll miss the calls, Mahanay said he is forced to face the inevitable.

"For me, seven years is a long time," he said. "Buddy has been a great companion. I'm getting a little older. Chasing the dogs around, I'll leave that for the younger guys. Buddy was a great companion."

After retirement, Buddy will continue to live with Mahanay and his family, which includes a couple of cats, a couple of fish and a 40-pound Shih Tzu named Bubbles.

"They get along great," Mahanay said. Buddy may weigh 116 pounds, but "the Shih Tzu is the boss."

Bloodhounds cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500, and OPD is shopping around for the "best price for the best nose."

Plus, we put our money down and we know what we are getting, she said.

Bill Uber, an OPD management assistant, has about $600 pledged so far. He will hold the checks pending approval by the Oakland City Council to collect money for a new dog, he said. He doesn't anticipate a rejection.

We can't accept anything without City Council approval, but we don't look gift dogs -- or horses -- in the mouth, he said, tongue in cheek. Buddy deserves retirement.

To donate to Buddy's retirement fund and help pay for bloodhound puppies and corresponding veterinarian bills, send checks to: Bill Uber, Oakland Police Department, 455 7th Street, seventh floor, Oakland 94607, memo: Canine Unit Contribution.

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
(510) 208-6447
(510) 208-6477 Fax
lmclaughlin@angnewspapers.com Email