ON PAW-TROL\Four-footed guard keeps hospital safe.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

He's a 2-year-old who knows a few words in Dutch, has four legs and is the latest addition to the Antelope Valley Hospital security staff.

Spike, a Belgian malinois sheepdog, in January began patrolling the hospital and its grounds with his handler, hospital security guard Christian Pizarro.

"We're getting a positive reaction. People come up and want to pet him, and they think it's a great idea," said Pizarro, 25, who has worked as a hospital security guard for five years. "It's nice knowing you have a backup. He's like a pal. The longer you work with him, the greater the bond."

Spike has already helped defuse one tense situation in which a visitor to the hospital's labor and delivery section on the third floor became belligerent with staff, said Pizarro, who gives Spike commands in Dutch.

"When we showed up, it de-escalated the situation once he saw the dog. Just Spike's presence did it," Pizarro said.

The guard and dog patrol during evening hours in the hospital, mostly in the emergency room and around the parking lots. A second dog and handler team will start next month.

The program's cost for the first year is $28,000 to buy the dogs and pay for five weeks of training for the dogs and handlers, but the hospital saved about $70,000 by canceling a contract with a firm that previously provided security in the emergency room, officials said.

Some hospital employees said they feel safer knowing that there is a canine unit at the hospital.

"I think it's a good idea. I see them go walking around," said Janel Doyle, a patient service representative. "It's nice to have trained people and dogs around us."

Merretta Palmer, a registered nurse in the emergency room and 24-year hospital employee, was taking a wait-and-see attitude to the newest and furriest worker on the hospital staff.

"It's something I've never worked with before. I think it will be an interesting experience," Palmer said. "It's a small waiting room that's crowded at night. That's when we'll see how well it works."

Hospital officials said the dogs will be allowed everywhere in the hospital except sterile areas, such as the operating room, certain patient rooms and the kitchen.

Employees and visitors may see Spike wearing a muzzle. Hospital officials say it is policy to keep the dog muzzled during the first several weeks or until the dog appears comfortable with its surroundings.

The dogs' handlers will attend a refresher course once a month and will have to be recertified each year.

The dogs will live at their handlers' homes, and a kennel has been provided for them. All items for training and maintaining the dogs are paid for by the hospital, officials said.

In the future, hospital officials hope to use dogs as pet therapists, providing a source of comfort to convalescing patients and for children in the pediatrics ward.

"We need to be careful. Some people like dogs; some people don't," said George Rowerdink, director of safety and security at the hospital.

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Photo (Color only in AV edition) Antelope Valley Hospital security guard Christian Pizarro keeps watch in a hall with his partner Spike. Karen Maeshiro