Dog trainer in Howell donates pups for police

Three German shepherd puppies are headed for a career in law enforcement with the efforts of a Howell dog trainer and Howell PBA Local 228.

Dan Gentile (top photo, right), owner of the Dan Gentile Dog Training Center, Howell, recently donated three 8-week-old puppies to be raised and trained as police dogs. Officer Michael Knights (top photo, left) of the Atlantic County K-9 Training Center, accepted the dogs. Howell police Sgt. David Flaherty (photo at right), who has known Gentile for more than 10 years, assisted in the donation effort. Dan Gentile, a dog trainer-behaviorist and owner of the Dan Gentile Dog Training Center, Howell, recently donated three 8-week-old puppies to be raised and trained as police dogs.

Gentile, a former police K-9 officer in New Mexico and a longtime law enforcement supporter, had several puppies from a litter he bred.

Knowing that the Howell Police Department has had a successful K-9 unit in place for about 10 years, he thought he might be able to help other law enforcement agencies obtain K-9 dogs in light of the strained budgets they face.

"The dogs I donated sell for $2,500 each," Gentile said. "I figured the local police departments could use some assistance because of the budget cuts."

Gentile contacted Howell police Sgt. David Flaherty, who is a member of Howell PBA Local 228, president of the Howell Superior Officers Association and PBA representative to the Howell Chamber of Commerce.

Gentile and Flaherty have been friends for more than 10 years.

Gentile, who has lived in Howell with his wife, Regina, for 10 years, trained a Howell police K-9 officer that partnered with Flaherty in 2000.

Howell police Cpl. Guy Arancio, who is the president of Howell PBA Local 228, was contacted and, with his support, steps were taken to make the donation a reality.

Gentile has been training dogs for more than 40 years.

"I have trained police dogs in Albuquerque, Dallas and Houston, but most are from New Jersey. Now I usually train dogs for individuals. People bring me dogs from Europe and all over the United States, but most of them are from the tristate area," he said.

Gentile said he believed these particular puppies would make good police dogs because they have outgoing temperaments and their breeding background is excellent.

"Their father is 130 pounds, which is big, and their mother is from Germany and a good size, too. They come from top German bloodlines," he said.

Gentile said average obedience training for a family dog takes about two weeks, depending on the dog. He estimated that the police dog and officer training will probably take between two and three months, but noted that it varies from one school to another.

He mentioned that not every dog makes it through the entire program to become a K-9 officer, but said that very often the police officers who have already bonded with the dogs during training end up adopting those puppies anyway.

Gentile's three puppies were donated to the Atlantic County K-9 Training Center, Egg Harbor Township, the same facility which trained Howell's newest K-9 officers.

Officer Michael Knights, the training center's head K-9 instructor, traveled to Gentile's training center on July 15 and was met by Gentile and Flaherty. The three puppies were presented, and after photos and goodbyes, they were transported to the facility.

Flaherty said he and Arancio are grateful to Gentile for his commitment and concern for the citizens of New Jersey and the law enforcement community.

"Dan Gentile has always gone out of his way to help whenever he can," Flaherty said. "Donations and actions such as this show how business can partner with government and the community. It is a win-win for all."