By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Thanks to the efforts of the Bridgewater Historical Association, Gleni, a Maine State Police K-9, now has a place of his own.
Glenni, the K-9 partner of Sgt. Chad Fuller was recently presented with a large, outdoor kennel that was purchased by the group.
“We felt Gleni needed a place to call his own,” said Jann Votaw, representative of the Bridgewater organization. “He’s trained on aggression, and needs time to be away from people.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
K-9 GIFT — The Bridgewater Historical Association recently donated a kennel to Maine State Police Sgt. Chad Fuller and his K-9 partner Glenni. Taking part in the presentation are, from left, Shirley Drew, Stephanie Willette, Dave McCleary, Gloria McCleary, Sgt. Fuller with Gleni, Sue Shaw, Jann Votaw and Alberta McDonald. Members who also worked to make the project happen but not pictured were Sonny Votaw, Wayne Bradstreet, Bob Heller, Eldon Lawrence, Brenda Vennart and Pam Green.
The donation is not the first time that the Bridgewater group has raised funds for police canines. In October, 2011, the group purchased a bullet-proof vest for Maxx, a K-9 with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department.
“A few years ago, a dear friend of ours — Gloria Bradstreet — came to the Bridgewater Historical Association with a suggestion,” Votaw said. “She mentioned that a lot of the (police) K-9s do not have protective vests. We undertook the project and bought a vest for Maxx, the partner of Mitch Wheeler.”
The society created a fund to raise money for other police canines in need of vests, but a decision was made to use a portion of those funds to purchase the kennel for Gleni. The Bridgewater Historical Association raised nearly $800 to purchase the kennel.
“Gleni stays with me 24 hours a day,” Fuller said. “He comes home with me at night. Just like people, he needs to have some winding down, alone time. That’s where this outdoor kennel comes in. It’s bigger than the space in the back of the car. It’s his spot.”
Fuller and Gleni have been partners for about a year-and-a-half. It was Fuller’s first K-9 partner. Gleni is named after former Maine State Police Detective Glenn Strange, who suffered a fatal heart attack on Oct. 17, 1997.
“It’s very fitting as I patrol the same area that Det. Strange did,” Fuller said. “It’s an honor to have a dog named after him.”
