York Regional Police take on two new canine coppers

Torontosun.com
Jan. 21, 2020
Ernest Doroszuk

York Regional Police have two new recruits -- with wet noses, bushy tails and eight legs between them.

Police dogs Hux and York -- German Shepherds born in Slovakia --both officially graduated from their training and were acknowledged as full-fledged members of the force at York Regional Police headquarters in Aurora on Monday.

Const. Zach Leece, a police officer for six years, described York -- his new canine partner -- as a focused dog who loves his ball on a string.

“I love the job of a police officer and this has been a childhood dream of mine,” said Leece, who grew up with dogs.

The two new additions bring the total number of dogs in the force’s canine unit to 15.

“For the families of the canine officers, this is a 24/7 job,” said Supt. Wallace Gossen. The animals go home with their handlers, vacation with them and become an integral part of their families.