Innisfail, Alta., April 05, 2006 – Ten Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) puppies now have new identities—or at least new names—following the sixth national “Name the Puppy” contest held by the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre (PDSTC) in Innisfail, Alta. Once again the contest was very successful with a total of 7,500 entries, including 250 classroom entries, from across the nation.

As in previous years, participants came up with original, popular and unique names. One winner was selected by draft for multiple entries of the same name. The ten winning puppys’ names and winners are:

• Scout, named by Zachary Grigg, age 12 from Tyne Valley, P.E.I.
• Sherman, named by Samantha Meeker, age 10 from Mount Pearl, Nfld.
• Sniper, named by Rebecca Konynenbelt, age 13 from Lethbridge, Alta.
• Sonic, named by Kayla Louie, age7 from Vancouver, B.C.
• Serge, named by Eric Webster, age 8 from Langley, B.C.
• Sherlock, named by Nicolas Clavette, age 10 from Edmundston, N.B.
• Smudge, named by Piero Buldo, age 13 from Toronto, Ont.
• Steele, named by Brendan Holmes, age 13 from Regina, Sask.
• Swat, named by Ross McBee, age 8 from Whitehorse, Yukon
• Star, named by Jovonni Simpson, age 11 from Wha Ti, N.W.T.

The top ten winners will receive a 5″×7″ laminated photograph of their “officially” named puppy, an official RCMP ball cap, a stuffed puppy named “Justice” and a certificate.

The winners of the classroom entries—selected on the basis of creativity—are Ethelbert School, Ethelbert, Man., and Miss Tiercey’s grade 3 class, Mary Queen of Peace, St. John’s, Nfld.

Each classroom will receive an 8″×10″ laminated picture of RCMP puppies, a stuffed puppy “Justice” and a certificate. Please note that other entries will also be used to name future puppies.

The officer in charge and the staff of the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre would like to thank all the young Canadians who entered the contest and express their sincere appreciation for their efforts.

PDSTC is the national training centre in Canada for all RCMP police dog teams. Currently, there are 133 RCMP police dog service teams from coast to coast to coast. In the last 71 years, RCMP dog teams have saved hundreds of Canadians’ lives.

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For more information, please contact:

Insp. Lawrence Aimoe

Officer in Charge, RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre
Tel.: 403-227-3346