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Private investigator Doug Hagmann

Gumshoes in fur

By Judi McLeod

Thursday, February 22, 2007

On any given night, sleuth-like Holly, an Aussie collie, shepherd mix is out riding the backcountry roads with her favourite human companion, private investigator Doug Hagmann.

It's not that Holly fully understands the word 'gumshoe'. The appealing 9-year-old canine simply prefers investigating anything that smells interesting.

"Holly likes to ride in the car more than anything else," says Hagmann, founder and director of the Northeast Intelligence Report and CEO of a multi-state licensed private investigation organization. "Holly never gives up hope that we will, at some point in time come off the backroads into a small town, where she is certain to spot a McDonald's.

When Holly's nose is twitching in dreams, she's dreaming about chicken McNuggets.

Hagmann has logged over 40,000 hours of covert surveillance in his career as a gumshoes. Every detective has a late night companion, but not all of them have ears that stand up at the very first sign of trouble.

For Sherlock Holmes, it was Dr. Watson. For Hagmann it's Holly, whom he readily describes as, "My Baby".

Not everyone who knows Hagmann as a slightly gruff gumshoes or as the brilliant researcher behind the Internet's Northeast Intelligence Report, would recognize the tender side of Detective Hagmann. Then again, they've never seen a picture of the irrestible Holly.

During long hours on the road Holly has proven herself superior to any human companion.

"All Holly ever requires while out on the job is a bowl of water, a quick run to the bushes to answer nature's call and the words "Good girl!" from time to time," says Hagmann.

Even the most earnest human companions have suggested calling it a night during tedious hours often required conducting surveillance.

"Newcomers who buy into the quick hit solutions of television detectives have been known to tire of the game easily because of the lack of excitement," explains the real life version.

One of Holly's most adorable traits is the way she sits patiently watching hour after hour, no matter how boring the job. Her ears stand up when an occasional small animal is spotted crossing the terrain.

If the boss happens to doze off, he can depend on a nudge from the 'gumshoes in fur'.

At home Holly must share human affection with King, a noble German Shepherd, now two and a half years old.

King's main claim to fame is that he is absolutely fearless.

And if Sherlock constantly reminded Dr. Watson "it's elementary", just say the word 'terrorist' and King automatically bares his teeth to render the most vociferous of dog growls.

Even King seems to know that it's the older and gentler Holly who makes the best detective companion.

With a perp in view, Holly would wait for her command. The go-get-'em attitude of King would necessitate holding him back.

Older and more patient, Holly understands that not that every perp is a terrorist.

"When King's in the car, he always wants to play watching the license plate game and he'd jump right out of the window to chase any car," Hagmann explains. "Holly, on the otherhand, seems to understand that this isn't a game, it's business."

But when he's off duty, both family pets get to ride around in the family vehicle. Going for groceries and countryside family drives, a happy duo of barking drowns out Rush Limbaugh on the radio.

Holly and King are cherished family members to the Hagmanns.

Canada Free Press hopes for a McDonald's at every lonely outpost where Holly is on duty, and Happy Hunting for the terrorist suspecting King.

Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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