- Dixon Street Dog Park soon could be known as Judge Memorial Dog Park
- Allentown City Council is weighing whether to rename the park in honor of a long-serving arson K-9
- Judge — who lives with his handler, former Allentown Fire Chief Lee Laubach — “will not be with us much longer,” according to a Facebook post
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A dog park on Allentown’s South Side soon could bear the name of a nationally renowned K-9 officer who helped investigate hundreds of fires in the Lehigh Valley.
Allentown City Council is poised to pass a resolution Wednesday renaming Dixon Street Dog Park as the Judge Memorial Dog Park.
Judge, a 14-year-old Labrador retriever, served as an arson K-9 with Allentown Fire Department from 2011-18. Since his retirement, he’s lived with his handler, former Allentown Fire Chief Lee Laubach.
"We are so very proud of everything he accomplish(ed) in his life. He is incredibly special and incredibly loved not only by us, but by all of you.”An Oct. 2 post on Judge's Facebook page
The dog-park dedication is a bittersweet moment for Judge and those who know and love him. A Facebook page for Judge revealed Monday that the retired K-9 “will not be with us much longer” as he has fluid in his abdomen.
“Right now, he is a happy dog," the post reads. "He will let us know when it is time to move on. (Please) keep him in your prayers. We are so very proud of everything he accomplish(ed) in his life. He is incredibly special and incredibly loved not only by us but by all of you.”
Hundreds have reacted to the post, with many offering their prayers for Judge and his family.
“Words are not enough to describe how Judge touched so many hearts and how special he was in the job he did,” Judy Trella wrote. “He is a true hero and such a special love that those whose lives he touched will always remember him with a smile and a tug of heartstrings.”
'Thrived in investigation'
Judge was chosen 2016 Arson Dog of the Year at that year’s annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards.
He “thrived” in investigation — searching 275 fire scenes during his career — as well as deterrence and education, according to a memo Allentown Parks and Recreation Director Mandy Tolino wrote to City Council.
The evidence Judge helped fire officials collect led to the arrests of more than a dozen people, and arson incidents in Allentown dropped by more than 50% during his career with the fire department, Laubach said in a video by American Humane.
“I think that’s going to be Judge’s legacy: the impact he’s made with the community here in the city of Allentown."Tony Alsleben, former Allentown police chief
Judge was a life-assistance dog before he had a “career change” and became a K-9, Laubach told Allentown students in the video. Laubach and Judge made countless visits to local schools and events to teach about fire safety.
“It’s tough to put a number on how many lives Judge has saved because of all the education he does with all the schools he goes into,” then-Allentown Police Captain Tony Alsleben said in the video.
“I think that’s going to be Judge’s legacy: the impact he’s made with the community here in the city of Allentown,” said Alsleben, who later became police chief.
