.
Memorials to Fallen K-9s
2001
page 14
Gone,
but never forgotten
F.A.S.T.
Co. donates cards to all partners
of
all working dogs/horses as long as their is an address.
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PLEASE
feel free to send condolences to officers with P.D. addresses below.......Please
In
Loving Memory of
K-9
NERO
April, 1998- September
14, 2001
Partner:
Officer
Todd Haller
Terre
Haute Police Dept. IN
17 Harding Avenue - Terra
Haute, IN 47807-
General
business THPolice@aol.com
Remembering
Nero:
Terre
Haute Police Officer Todd Haller receives a
hug from a fellow officer after a memorial service for Haller's K-9 police
dog, Nero, Tuesday at Terre Haute City Court. The duo was a recipient of
many police team honor.
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K-9
Nero died at the age of 3, medical reasons. He will be missed by everyone
in the department. K-9 commemoration
Tribune-Star/Joseph
C. Garza By Karin Grunden 9-19-01
As
a recording of "Taps" played overhead Tuesday in Terre Haute City Court,
a police honor guard saluted during a memorial service for one of their
own. Soon, one by one, fellow members of the city police department offered
their condolences to a teary eyed Officer Todd Haller, whose partner of
two years died Friday after emergency surgery. Nero, a 3 year old police
dog, was more than just a canine drug sniffer. He served as Haller's companion
and friend, long after their work day concluded. "Some may look at our
partners as just dogs that are highly trained," but they are much more,
said officer Dan Parker, who oversees the department's canine unit.
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"Nero
definitely loved only one person and that was Todd," Parker said, fighting
back tears as he eulogized the dog. They "were not only partners, but inseparable,"
he said. Nero was euthanized Friday following emergency surgery for gastric
bloat, said Dr. Floyd Lee, a veterinarian at the Cross Clinic in Terre
Haute. For unknown reasons, a dog's stomach can fill with air and easily
rotate itself, cutting off circulation to the organ, said Lee, who was
among about 50 people attending Nero's memorial service. The affliction
is more common among large dogs than small. Even with surgery, the condition
can be life threatening, and in Nero's case the stomach tissue had deteriorated
beyond repair, Lee said. Nero's death was the first for the Police Department's
canine unit, which was established about four years ago, Parker said. Nero,
one of four dogs assigned to the department, was born in April 1998 and
acquired about a year later when Parker traveled to Europe to transport
12 police dogs back to the United States for an Indiana kennel. He came
with one talent -- to bite, Parker recalled. "He's the reason I carry a
suture kit, by the way," Parker said, bringing a laugh from the audience
during the otherwise somber ceremony.
Nero's
difficult personality proved a challenge for his new handler. Haller, at
first nervous about his new role, said it took a few months for the 100
pound canine to warm to him, but before long it was the "beginning of a
true friendship." At home, Nero had his own log retreat -- a large insulated
dog house made with cedar logs and finished off with carpet inside, Haller
said. During the workday, the two often reported to schools, businesses
and even state agencies, where Nero would perform his public service, looking
for drugs. With a fixed stare, the dog would alert his handler to hidden
narcotics, and wouldn't move until told. Nero and his handler were part
of an estimated 1,000 plus searches during the dog's lifetime --including
one Haller remembers fondly. As Nero sniffed for narcotics in a car, the
dog found more than he bargained for while his handler briefly looked away.
When Haller turned around, his dog's mouth was filled with a Big Mac sandwich,
a treat he'd found in fast food bag inside the car. Haller ordered his
canine companion to return the burger to the bag, and the dog immediately
complied. But his antics didn't end there. At times, the four legged
officer seemed fascinated with machine guns, once knocking down a SWAT
team member by his gun during a raid on a Terre Haute home, Haller said.
And, he was always reliable at slobbering on a clean uniform. However,
when it came down to serious business, Nero was one of the best in the
state, Parker said, explaining that Nero and his handler had recently placed
third in a canine olympics competition in Muncie. Hours after the dog was
honored Friday in Terre Haute for the accomplishment, something was noticeably
wrong. Haller's four legged partner became sick, bloating in the midsection.
Even emergency surgery wasn't enough to save the dog. "It was like losing
a child," said Kris Wagner, Haller's fiancee. And for the department, it
was like losing one of their own. A member of the honor guard stood stoically
next to a photograph of a wide eyed, perky eared Nero during Tuesday's
40 minute memorial service. The eulogies, including a brief one from Haller
himself, brought tears to some officers' eyes. Many wore black bands across
their badges. For now, Haller's squad car will have a noticeably empty
back seat. But hopefully not for long. Even as early as today, Haller and
Parker planned to make the trip to a Peru kennel to look for a new police
dog. And Haller, an eight year member of the force who never intended to
be a dog handler, is eager to do it all over. Even if that means the back
seat of his squad car will become a chew toy once again.
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In Loving Memory
of
K-9
CHIEF
October 8, 2001
 
...
Partner: Sgt.
Julie Hoffman
Topeka
Police Dept. KS
320
S. Kansas - Topeka,
KS 66603 - 785.368.9551
This
morning at 1:30 AM, my partner since 1994,
Chief,
died in my arms after a long battle with cancer.
I
never knew being a K-9 handler could be so painful,
but
losing a partner and best friend is beyond words.
God
I know there are no criminals in Heaven,
but
please make sure Chief has a place to play.
God
speed Chief.
My
partner, my love, and my heart has gone to the angels.
Sgt. Julie
Hoffman and Angel K-9 Chief
Officer Hoffman has been on the department since 1983. Chief
has been in the department since 1994. Chief
was one of the oldest working police dogs. This
is one of the baseball cards that
we handed out to children. Incidentally,
Julie is formerly from Elizabeth, NJ.
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Julie
will never forget Chief.
Julie
has a new partner:
K-9
JOKER
We
competed in a narcotics detection competition and won a 2nd place trophy.
In that category he is a lot like Chief. His name is Joker and he
is very ornery. He came from the same man who raised and trained
my Angel boy Chief. I cannot come to your website without the tears
pouring out. I miss my boy so much. I was cleaning the other
day and I had placed a bag of Chief's hair behind his picture but had forgotten
it was there. I held it to my heart and cried a river. He was
always there for me and I just wish I could have done more for him.
I would like to meet you someday and get your autograph in my book.
Your compassion for us handlers is beyond words. You hold a very
special place in my heart. You don't know how much the cards meant.
You helped me heal. For you and all you do, I will always be grateful.
God speed Angel Chief, keep watch over Lulu and keep her safe.
Julie
and K-9 Joker
(his
name fits his personality)
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In Loving Memory
of
K-9
WALKER
"DAYBREAK'S
ALABASTER WALKER"
Sept. 10, 1996
- Oct. 7, 2001 SAR
Handler: Lou
Ann Metz
Summit
Search & Rescue Dogs, Inc. OH
1074
Jones St. Ravenna, OH 44266
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Certified
Area Search Dog with Summit Search and Rescue Dog Certified Delta Society
Pet Partner
Walker
was a special guy. He was confident, compassionate, gentle and forgiving.
Walker had his own ideas of fund and they did not include repetition or
simplicity. Walker proved to me that although humans "think" they know
where scent is, we humans actually have no idea. Walker would turn a deaf
ear to me if he had scent, no mater how long or how loud I yelled. He would
just keep working until he made his find. He would come running back to
me full tilt and hug me with that 100 lb body and grinning ear to ear.
Walker taught us all the meaning of intelligent disobedience. Being a new
handler, I would often feel compelled to change things after reading a
book or attending a seminar. Eventually however, Walker figured out what
worked and got me trained. I learned to put my hands in my pockets, keep
my mouth shut and give Walker the trust the trust he deserved. He never
let me down. As a Pet Partner, Walker spent much of his time with cancer
patients at our local hospital. Ever gentle, Walker would quietly sit while
the patients or families shared their thoughts with him. Walker seemed
to soak up their hugs and their tears and replace them with a smile. He
was magical that way. Walker died much too young at six years of age from
bacterial meningitis. I am richer for the experience of being his partner
and having him as my teacher.
Thanks
so much for all of your work. I am currently working a 18 month old
White German Shepherd named Lilly. We are certified with Summit Search
and Rescue Dogs, Inc. of Ohio as a Human Remains Detection Team. We are
currently working toward a specialization in historical remains detection
which we will utilize by assisting in the detection of battlefield remains,
Native American burial sites, lost cemeteries and family burial sites.
Lilly is a certified Delta Society Pet Partner, so when we are not searching,
we visit patients at our local hospital
God
Bless,
Lou
Ann Metz & Lilly
cards
mailed and received by Lou Ann wonderful
email received. 5/11/02
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Continue
to page 14-A of memorial 2001 to read about WTC Sirius
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