K-9 officer for the Darlington Police Department Ben Conway talks about his best friends Kilo, an 8-year-old German shepherd and Belgian malinois mix, and Arrieta, a 2-year-old Dutch shepherd.
Conway has been the K-9 officer since 2012 and was paired with Kilo, his police dog, originally from Holland. Although he spent years wanting a boxer, Conway decided he wanted a shepherd with a brindle coat after working with Kilo. "Ari" came from Stockton, Illinois, and was named after Jake Arrieta, a pitcher for the Cubs.
Conway has been the K-9 officer since 2012 and was paired with Kilo, his police dog, originally from Holland. Although he spent years wanting a boxer, Conway decided he wanted a shepherd with a brindle coat after working with Kilo. "Ari" came from Stockton, Illinois, and was named after Jake Arrieta, a pitcher for the Cubs.
Describe Kilo and Ari's personalities.
Kilo is calm. He's good with children, yet he's a trained police dog so with the flip of a switch, he can become aggressive. He's a gentle giant, that's the best way to describe it.
Ari is sensitive. She's 100 percent puppy. She loves to play, super active. My fiance (Keltie Kryka) is pregnant, and she's aware of that and very protective of her. She's aware of people's feelings, that's for sure.
What do you and your dogs do together?
With Kilo, it's always work. We take Ari for walks, and she loves going to Devil's Lake State Park and visiting grandma and grandpa and playing with their dog.
What has it been like have Kilo and Ari in your life?
I couldn't even imagine going to work without a dog. I literally have a dog with me everywhere I go. When I'm at work I have Kilo, and at home I have Ari. I have a dog with me all the time.
Kilo is calm. He's good with children, yet he's a trained police dog so with the flip of a switch, he can become aggressive. He's a gentle giant, that's the best way to describe it.
Ari is sensitive. She's 100 percent puppy. She loves to play, super active. My fiance (Keltie Kryka) is pregnant, and she's aware of that and very protective of her. She's aware of people's feelings, that's for sure.
What do you and your dogs do together?
With Kilo, it's always work. We take Ari for walks, and she loves going to Devil's Lake State Park and visiting grandma and grandpa and playing with their dog.
What has it been like have Kilo and Ari in your life?
I couldn't even imagine going to work without a dog. I literally have a dog with me everywhere I go. When I'm at work I have Kilo, and at home I have Ari. I have a dog with me all the time.