MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — The dogs at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island are easily distracted, but so are the people.
"A lot of people do have their face in their phones, yes,” Tim Peiffer, at the park with his long-haired dachshund Hugo, told KIRO 7.
There's not much you can do about the pets, but the Mercer Island police department has hope for their owners. While they're walking Fido, or in this case, Hugo, they want the humans on the other end of the leash to watch for suspicious activity.
It's called Paws on Patrol. It's an idea trending nationally that Des Moines police started back in June.
"The whole objective is when you're out walking your dog and paying attention, you need to pick up your phone instead of going home and calling,” explained Tonya Seaberry, the community officer in charge of the Des Moines Dog Walker Watch. “You pick up your phone and go, ‘Hey, I'm walking in this neighborhood, I see this, it doesn't look normal,’” she continued.
In Des Moines, dogs that participate get a blue bandana. The police department says they don't have to wear them, but just like a neighborhood watch sign, it lets other people know they're under surveillance.
Citizen-- and canine policing-- has become especially important with the increase in property crime such as car prowls. Mercer Island will even train their Paws on Patrollers. Des Moines didn't do any classes; they're just asking pet parents to pay as much attention to their surroundings as they do their dogs.
"We do not want you to be a hero, follow the car, do anything out of your ordinary day,” said Seaberry. “All I'm asking you to do is stop and just make a phone call."
You can register for Paws on Patrol on the city's website here or in person at the police department. Training classes are scheduled to begin in a few weeks and will be held at City Hall.