ANNAPOLIS – Before the State House filled up with legislators, staffers and media Friday, the silence of the main lobby was broken by the echoing sounds of toenails skittering on slick tile as Hunter chased his ball.
Hunter, a 5-year-old chocolate Labrador, was burning off some energy in the hall between the House and Senate chambers after his daily grind of checking the building for bombs. His handler, State Trooper Derrick Bernard, described the activity as “motivational.”
“It’s just to break the monotony. He gets bored doing the same sweep day after day,” Bernard said as Hunter waited at his side, tail whipping back and worth, preparing to explode off in the direction of the thrown ball.
By 8:45 a.m., it was time to clear out. A woman who was afraid of dogs had arrived at work.