New police dog settles in at UB

Meet Congi.

The lovable, floppy-eared, brown-and-white dog is the newest member of University Police and the UB family.

Trained in tracking and detecting explosives, Congi joined the department this summer and is already becoming a fixture on campus alongside his handler and best friend, Officer Dale Zulawski. You’ll see the duo performing security sweeps at campus venues prior to events; responding to reports of suspicious devices; and helping track missing persons.

“He’s a good dog. He’s a hard-working dog,” Zulawski says. “He knows what his job is. When he is given his command to go detect explosives or to track, he’s all business.”

He’s also still just a puppy.

Born in May and hailing from Hungary, the German Shorthaired Pointer came to UB by way of Shallow Creek Kennels, a privately run training facility for police dogs located outside Pittsburgh.

UB has been wanting to re-establish a K-9 unit for years, after having a large program in the 1970s and retiring the last dog during the 1980s, says Police Chief Chris Bartolomei.

Congi and his sniffing skills will be a big asset to the university, Bartolomei says.

“We have always had to rely on outside agencies and they’re not always available to respond in a timely manner,” Bartolomei says. “Congi will also be available to assist other agencies who have helped us over the years.”

Zulawski was an athletic trainer with UB Athletics before joining University Police in 2016. The seven-year veteran applied for the department’s new role of handler.

“I’m a huge dog lover and it’s been a career goal to be a canine handler,” Zulawski says. “It’s a neat job; it’s a rewarding job. No one’s ever really sad when they see a dog, so I love having him.”

Zulawski spent six weeks at Shallow Creek this summer getting introduced to his new partner, learning everything from how the dog follows a scent to what to look for when he’s tracking.

The two have been inseparable ever since. They’re together 24/7.

At work, the partners travel the campus together wherever Zulawski’s daily police duties take him. Congi rides along in the back of the vehicle, waiting for when his nose is needed. Zulawski keeps him sharp by mixing in some training during the day.

“He’s refining his skills,” Zulawski says. “At the same time, I’m learning how to recognize his skills and how to handle him while he’s searching.”

At home, Congi is beloved by the Zulawski children – Max, 9; Luke, 7; and Eliza, 4. Still a pup, he’s a ball of energy and relishes attention. His good nature makes him eager to please. He wants to be around Zulawski at all times.

He’s also a bit of a goofball, Zulawski says.

“Maybe it’s just the floppy ears,” he says.

In fact, Congi isn’t trained to be aggressive or apprehend suspects. It was important that University Police had a friendly dog who can interact with the students and staff on campus, Bartolomei says.

“I also have to admit that I’m definitely a dog person,” Bartolomei says. “It’s important for our department to have a workplace culture where everyone supports each other like family – and every family should have a dog.”