Darin' Erin: Running from the Law

When Detective Bob Suarez asked if I wanted to do a dare with K9 officers, I said sure.

I really need to start asking more about the fine print in these dares!

Photographer Jake and I headed up to Clinton. The K9 officers and their partners train once a week in Clinton or Loudon County.

We pulled up, and I swear a big smile came across all of the faces of the officers. Whose dog was going to get to "play" with me?

The guys explained that that's what the dogs think when they see the suit--play time.

I think differently.

I'm not one to run from the law, so when Det. Suarez was explaining how I supposed to run in the suit, I was listening.

I started running, and a dog was in my peripheral vision. I forgot everything that man said to me, and that's when Raptor hit me square in the back, and I was down for the count.

I could have sworn I heard Photographer Jake laughing. So I got up, dusted myself off, and Det. Suarez went through the rigamarole again, and this time I asked if I could walk, as the pooch came barreling toward me.

This time, I was ready.

He got me down, but I got up and fought with him a little.

Quick note to troublemakers out there--you might want to reconsider running from the law, if you are not wearing a suit that is made of kevlar and jute.

See? You can learn from Darin' Erin, too.

Then it was time to let Denero have a taste. What was I thinking? Wouldn't one have been enough?

No, I figured Denero needed "play time," too.

So out he came after me, and down I went...fast little fellas.

So after three "hits," Photographer Jake and I figured that was enough, and we were all done.

I think I have a little more respect from those guys than I had before. Ok, maybe not.

So I made it through another dare, and whew, I'm glad I made it out of there unscathed.

Thanks to the Clinton Police Department and the Loudon County Sheriff's Office for letting me "play" with their K-9 officers.