NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY

It can be a bit of an old dog’s life these days. They say any publicity is good publicity, but I am not so certain, especially when you consider all the bad headlines X L Bully dogs have been attracting recently.

It’s almost as bad as being an officer of, or even a member, of West Dunbartonshire Council when newshounds like me are sent to the doghouse.

They have their spin vets in the police dog section, of course, but most people know that, unlike the council, a police dog’s bark is worse than its bite.

And that’s why this week the police are snapping up this piece of good publicity which has been brought about courtesy of one of their own police dogs, the brave and admirable Mia.

The police have let us know, in the way only they can, that on the evening of Friday 2nd February, a male was spotted breaking into a van on East Princes Street, Helensburgh. The male was challenged, but still made off with tools worth over £700.

Local police officers carried out an area search and thanks to a good description of the male passed on by witnesses he was soon traced near Craigendoran Station.

The male initially made off and resisted arrested before being brought under control by officers. He was found to have discarded the stolen tools.

And thanks to some good detective work from police dog Mia, the stolen tools were sniffed out and found a short distance away from where they had been taken.

The arrested male will be appearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court soon.

Unfortunately, opportunistic thefts like this are on the increase. And police dogs are as scarce to come by as are police officers themselves.

Mia’s proud police dog owners tell us: “If you want advice about how to better protect your home and possessions our local crime prevention officers will be happy to come out and speak to you.

“Just call 101 or come into your local police station to arrange an appointment.”

The news of Mia’s courage and success has brought a succession of complimentary quotes and likes (or should that be licks?) on social media:

Good job Mia…..and the officers of course … Well done Mia, extra biscuits for you …. Good Dog. Great job … Maybe a wee bite might’ve cured his light fingeredness …

Perhaps the Council should splash out – despite the budget cuts they keep making – on a dog such as Mia, a newshound perhaps or a good lawyer, where they also have a shortage of talent?

Rabbie Burns had a name for the lawyers. “The hounds that prowl in the kennels of justice,” the Bard called them.

Perhaps readers can come up with a name for the Council’s £400,000 a year team of spin doctors?

You could buy a wheen of dog biscuits for that kind of money, especially when it comes to dealing with journalists like me, and their own team’s bite is outrageously worse than their bark.

They have had me in their doghouse, banned but certainly not muzzled, for about five years now. And I’m straining at the leash to get out.

I miss all the fun of those council meetings and excitement of being thrown out of them.

C’mon Amanda. Give us a paw.