Plett's first K9 crime fighter bows out

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - After nearly seven years of serving the Bitou community, Plettenberg Bay's first four-legged crime fighter, Blackie, is bowing out.

Over the years, the now about nine-year-old German shepherd's remarkable 'from zero to hero' story has captured the hearts of the community he serves.

Blackie was found wandering the streets of Plett after being abandoned by his owners and caught the attention of the Plettenberg Bay Animal Welfare Society (Paws).

It took the Paws team about two weeks to catch him, but from that moment Blackie's talents were noticed, and the rest is history.

Blackie showing off his skills.

The Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers Association financially backed his adoption and service training and he became Plett's first K9 crime fighter as part of the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) team with operations head Otto Olivier as his handler. Blackie received his training at Tactical K9 Africa trainers at Swartruggens and immediately impressed the training team.

Over the years Blackie shone in his work. He was involved in the arrests of 47 crime suspects. He even received a 'hero award' from the Plett community. "That was probably one of his biggest or happiest moments as he was spoiled that day," Olivier said.

"Another great moment for him was when a local woman gave him a huge bone which he chewed on most of the day.

"He is however at his happiest going after suspects."

Blackie in action.

Blackie and Olivier were involved in a serious vehicle accident in October 2021. Olivier said that his beloved dog was never the same after the incident and started showing behavioural changes.

In recent months he also started noticing that Blackie was slowly losing his sight.

A decision was made to retire Blackie from active duty and this transition will be done over the next month.

"Just because he is retiring from active duty, it does not mean he won't be around. He will continue to be by my side as we work. We can't take that away from him, because he lives for that. He loves it," Olivier said.

The bond between the two is also an unbreakable one. "He will continue to stay at home with me and sleep next to me in bed. The day that I met Blackie, he was a street dog. He did not know he would have a future. We immediately bonded and we've become friends. We will always remain friends until the day one of us is not here anymore."

Over the years the PBCPA has added other dogs to their team that will continue to follow in Blackie's paw prints.

Kira, who was donated to the PBCPA by Tactical K9 Africa to bolster the organisation's crime-fighting efforts, joined the unit in 2019 when she was only five months old. She is a purpose-bred tracking dog.

Another dog that was made part of the team is Zeus, that excels in sniffing out drugs and is also used in search and rescue efforts.

Blackie and handler Otto Olivier on duty.