Bath Police to get new K-9

The Berkeley Springs Police Department will soon have a new K-9 officer to replace Butch,
the five year veteran of the department who had to be euthanized on Saturday, August 5 after unexpectedly suffering several debilitating seizures.

A donor, who Police Chief Craig Pearrell said wishes to remain anonymous, has stepped forward to assist the town and police, volunteering to pay the entire $8,000 cost for a new K-9 police dog.

Pearrell said the person making the donation only wants a photo of the new dog in return.
A quorum of the Town of Bath Council consisting of Councilmen Ken Easton, Scott Merki and Vince

Kidwell voted to accept the anonymous offer at a special meeting Thursday, August 16.
Before the council voted, Mayor Susan Webster said, “I truly believe the community appreciated Butch.” She then asked Pearrell, “Is this something you want to do?”

“I have been here for 10 years, five and a half with a K-9. It’s hard to walk away, there is a huge emptiness. There is an empty kennel that sits in back of my house and an empty back seat in my cruiser. I would be honored to have another police dog,” Pearrell said.

Town has equipment
Since the town already has the kennel, a police cruiser outfitted for a K-9 and all the auxiliary equipment needed to handle a dog as well as an expense budget for a dog, any additional cost to the town, if any, will be minimal, Pearrell said.

Pearrell said he has been in contact with Mike Mays of Battle Ridge K-9 Services in Madison, West Virginia and is considering a two year old German Shepherd. He said the dog is in training and will probably be available in October.

The dog comes with a one year warranty from Battle Ridge.

Butch laid to rest
K-9 Officer Butch was buried in the Rosedale Pet Cemetery in Martinsburg after a funeral service at Berkeley Springs High School Tuesday, August 7.

Pearrell said Butch was put to rest near other police and military dogs who died while serving. The cost to the town for Butch’s medical bills, casket and burial plot was under $2,000 Pearrell said.