Israel’s canine cops help beef up Bay Area security

Israel has a new export: Dogs. Specifically, bomb-detection dogs.

Pups for Peace recently brought eight California police and sheriff's officers to Israel for counterterrorism training, then sent them home with dogs.

"The threat of terrorism is something [Israelis] live with, and unfortunately, for them, they're using these bomb dogs every day," said Dep. Mike Saliba of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. "You can't duplicate their experience."

Saliba was one of eight law enforcement officers from six California jurisdictions to spend two months in Netanya learning how to handle a police dog and how to deal with threats of terrorism. Officers came from the Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sacramento and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Offices, and the San Francisco Police Department.

They each returned with one or two dogs and a basic Hebrew proficiency. Their dogs take commands in Hebrew.

Saliba is a tall man with an inviting smile. He was chosen out of 14 Santa Clara County officers who applied for the Israel training program. He had never been to the Middle East before, but quickly felt a kinship between Israel and the United States.

"We share the same values — freedom, justice — but we unfortunately share the same enemy," he said.

The training program was unique in that it extended beyond the basic techniques of being a dog handler. Since the dogs were not fully trained when the American officers arrived in Israel, handler and dog learned together and established a special rapport.

Pups for Peace also brought in soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces to teach the American officers defensive techniques like Krav Maga, a form of self-defense.

"This wasn't just 'hold the leash, find the bomb,'" Saliba said. "We received terrorist training."

Saliba returned to San Jose with a German shepherd and a yellow Labrador, named Jerry and Smaya, respectively. They live with him.

Pups for Peace worked with the state's Department of Homeland Security to pay for the officers' trip and the trained canines. Local authorities didn't have to pay for any part of the training or the dogs, which usually cost $10,000 each.

Pups for Peace got its start in April 2002 after the Passover massacre at the Park Hotel in the seaside resort town of Netanya. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization promotes human and animal welfare by rescuing all its dogs from animal shelters.

The program trains bomb-sniffing dogs to protect Israelis as they go about their daily lives — shopping in outdoor markets and malls and taking public transportation.

To date, Pups for Peace has trained nearly 300 dogs and 150 handlers for work in Israel, and 16 dogs and eight handlers for the United States. The agency will open a training facility in the state this summer.

The California partnership represents the organization's first project in the United States. The governor's office approached Pups for Peace about working together to improve safety and security in the state. Laura Young, director of the Los Angeles office, said the collaboration has generated interest from other states and private corporations.

Saliba said he was impressed by the vigilance of Israeli citizens. For instance, during a drill in Netanya that required him to spot a suspicious package, a passerby approached Saliba and pointed to an unattended bag.

"I was moved by that," he said. "I found people of Israel to be really committed to the security and unity of their country. They're really tough people."