Roethlisberger donates police dog to Cleveland
By The Associated Press
Thursday, September 6, 2007
The Dawg Pound in Cleveland may not be a fan of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the city's police dogs will be.
Roethlisberger's foundation is donating an explosion detection dog, a training course and a canine protection vest to the Cleveland Division of Police's canine unit.
Roethlisberger, who grew up in Findlay, Ohio, learned that Cleveland's only explosive detecting canine, Rex, is 11 years old and nearing retirement age. The department did not have the funds to purchase a new dog.
"Born and raised in the state of Ohio, I have always held the deepest respect for the efforts of our police and fire departments," said Roethlisberger, who has become friends with some state and local officers in Pittsburgh.
Roethlisberger often wears a Pennsylvania State Police ballcap in honor of his late friend, state police Cpl. Joseph Pokorny, who was slain while on duty in 2005.
Roethlisberger's foundation will distribute grants to the police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area and those of each Steelers regular season away opponent. The first such grant was given last year to Findlay's police department to replace its service dog.
The Steelers open the season Sunday in Cleveland, where the end zone fans have long been known as the Dawg Pound.
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