Fremont officials want to have more McGruff Houses

He's recognized by 99 percent of children in the United States as someone they can trust.

Is he:

A. Mr. Rogers

B. President George Bush

C. McGruff the Crime Dog

The correct answer - C.

Known by children nationwide as the cartoon canine with their best interests at heart, the trench-coated hound called McGruff has been nosing around American neighborhoods since 1982. His mutt face is posted in the windows of private homes because where children see McGruff, they see safety.

Children know a house with his picture is the place to go if they feel threatened, lost or bullied. They know an adult living there will help them and call the appropriate authorities for assistance.

That's the way the McGruff House Program works.

This fall, area PTA's and city police are combining to make it work a little bit better in Fremont.

Shelly Holzerland, program coordinator and police dispatcher, said the McGruff House program initially got off to a good start in 1990 with as many as 140 Fremont homeowners volunteering in the safety effort.

But gradually, some participants moved away and others lost interest after their own children grew up. Currently, there are just 86 McGruff Houses in the approximately 300-block city. Ideally, the program recommends one house per block. "It's time to re-educate people about the McGruff program," said PTA Council president Diane Brown. "Basically, it's up to each PTA unit as to how they do it."

Several units hosted visits by McGruff himself during Thursday night open houses at the public elementary schools.

"It's amazing how many parents don't know about the program," Brown said.

The assistance effort began in Utah 23 years ago and now includes programs in nearly every state. McGruff's dog face is used on signs nationwide because children recognize the character and its meaning whether or not they're familiar with the neighborhood or the house where it's posted.

Holzerland said participating volunteers generally are residents who are at home before or after school, or both, and are willing to help a child in an emergency.

"They're not required to break up fights," she said, "just provide a haven for the kids."

Participants do not, among other things, personally provide first aid except in extreme emergency situations, act as an escort service, provide toilet facilities, food or beverages or assume the role of neighborhood supervisor.

Precautionary measures include criminal background checks on every volunteer prior to acceptance and annually thereafter, and strict control of distribution of McGruff window signs.

Both Brown and Holzerland have been personally involved in the safety program.

Brown's house has sported a McGruff sign for the past 15 years. Although she's had just three incidences to report in that time, one involved a not-quite-3-year-old riding a toy down the middle of the street. He'd already crossed several streets by the time he passed Brown's house. She managed to get his name and called his mother.

Holzerland was once on the receiving end of the program. Stranded in the night with an infant and a car that wouldn't run, she walked to the door of a neighborhood house which displayed McGruff's mug. The owner handed out a cordless phone so Holzerland could call for help.

For more information about the McGruff House Program or to become a participant, contact a member of your local PTA, the health and safety chairperson of the elementary school in your neighborhood or Holzerland at 727 -2677.