 Memorials
to Fallen K-9s |
| Late
Entries In Loving Memory of MWD CHIMACO (Chewy) February 17, 2002 
Handlers: Tech. Sgt. Mary
Espieg
Staff Sgt. Brian Umbach 89th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog kennel master Andrews Air Force Base, VA In Loving Memory of MWD JACK February 17, 2002  Handler: Tech. Sgt. Michael Secrist 89 SFS MWD handler Andrews Air Force Base, VA A sad farewell - 89 SFS loses two military dogs to illnesses
by Senior Airman Chrisalyn Smith - Staff writer - March 4, 2002 "I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw, that my fate has always been safest in your hands." This excerpt from a poem entitled "Man's Best Friend" has especially strong meaning for Tech. Sgt. Mary Espieg, 89th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog kennel master, Staff Sgt. Brian Umbach, 89 SFS MWD handler, Tech. Sgt. Michael Secrist, 89 SFS MWD handler and the entire 89 SFS, because they recently lost two of their members. MWDs Chimaco, who served 10 years at Andrews, and Jack, who served four years, were put to sleep Feb.17 at Fort Belvior Veterinary Clinic, Alexandria, VA. Espieg said she had a unique attachment to Chimaco -- who was also known as "Chewy" -- because she was Chimaco's last handler and her nephew, Staff Sgt. Rob Rocarck, who is now at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, was Chewy's first handler. Chewy was a golden retriever, which is unusual for MWDs. "Most MWDs are Dutch or German shepherds or Belgium madinois because they have a high work drive," said Espieg. "Despite Chewy's breed and friendly disposition, he had an extremely high work drive and was the only golden retriever in the Air Force, according to our information." Chewy's main job at Andrews was presidential protection as an explosive detector. He went to many different locations in support of the President. Chimaco's accomplishments include: providing explosion detection support throughout the tenure of five presidents, helping secure the Middle East Peace Talks in 1993, supporting the Secret Service Uniformed Division in Charleston, W. Va. and providing support to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit in April 1999. He was temporarily assigned to Saudi Arabia from January until April 2000 and helped secure base ceremonies to include 10 Joint Service Open Houses. |
"Chewy
was
so friendly and lovable that he was known as the public
affairs dog," said Espieg. "He was the only MWD that was permitted to
be petted; he helped with events such at the Children with Cancer Party
and numerous Christmas parties." Chewy will be sorely missed
because of his lovable nature, she said.
"Even the former wing commander's wife, Linda Hawkins, used to request
Chimaco sit with her at the Joint Service Open Houses," Espieg said. Jack, a narcotic detector dog, was the other MWD that was put to sleep. Jack was a German shepherd that arrived here in August 1996. His handler during his time at Andrews was Umbach. "We went everywhere together," said Umbach. "The Base Exchange, Base Shoppette, Burger King, you name it, we were together." "One of Jack's funniest moments was when we were searching a freezer truck and his tongue stuck to the ice. All I could do is laugh out loud," he said. Some of the places Jack went in support of his duties included: Cleveland, Ohio, to support the President; Buffalo, N.Y., to support the Vice President; Camp David for the Peace Talks in 2000; and to North and South Korea with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "The one thing I'll miss the most about Jack is that he used to bark at everything while riding in my car," said Umbach. "I'm still not used to the silence." According to Espieg and Umbach, there was no warning of Jack and Chewy's illnesses; they were acting normally the day before they felt ill. Chewy was playing with MWD personnel and Jack was working, but the next day their demeanors suddenly changed. "Both Chewy and Jack were acting a little different," said Umbach. "Jack, especially, seemed to act like a child with a stomach ache." The on-call veterinarian was called immediately and the dogs were transported to the veterinary facility at Fort Belvior. After the doctors ran some tests and X-rays, they discovered the dogs had incurable illnesses. "Jack's entire stomach was diseased, as we suspected, and would not have survived surgery. Chewy had a cancerous tumor that spread throughout his entire abdomen," said Lt. Col. Catherine Banfield, commander of the National Area District Veterinary Command at Fort Belvior's Veterinary Clinic. "It was sad to put the dogs to sleep, but it was to prevent suffering for the dogs." Espieg and Umbach were in the clinic when the dogs were being put to sleep. "I think Jack definitely knew something was wrong," said Umbach. "He could see it in my eyes. Something was wrong, and I wasn't telling him what." Espieg was in a separate room comforting Chewy, while Umbach was in the other room holding his friend's head in his lap. "There's a saying for times like this, 'emotions run up the leash and down the leash'," said Umbach. Another MWD that will be put down soon due to medical reasons is Cora. Cora is a Dutch shepherd and a patrol narcotic dog who has served Andrews since December 1992. As a part of her duties, she went to San Juan Puerto Rico to support security operations. Cora's present handler is Secrist. "I feel that Cora will go to a better place because she is such a doll," said Secrist. "My fondest memories of Cora were when she chased squirrels. She loved running them around. "I feel that Cora has served the Air Force very well," he said. "She isn't particularly smart at times, but she does have tendencies to shine." Although these members of 89 SFS will be missed, life will go on for the squadron and their handlers. Cora and Jack already have replacements; however, Chewy does not as of yet. Cora's replacement's name is Quera, and Secrist is becoming accustomed to his new dog. "I call her 'Q' for short," Secrist said. "She resembles a mouse, so I call her my little mouse as well." Secrist said 'Q' is a curious dog and will stick her nose in every nook and cranny. Jack's replacement is Hunter; his handler is Umbach. "I had Hunter for about a month before Jack died," said Umbach. "It's a little easier to get used to a new dog before the old one passes away, but not much. I will still remember and miss Jack. He was the first dog I ever lost." While the dogs may be gone, they will live on in their handlers' memories. And, as a couple of the dogs have replacements, together with their handlers they will continue to secure and protect the base as their predecessors have. Source: Andrews Air Force Base, Public Affairs |
|
| In
Loving Memory of K-9 BUDDY LODD October 24, 2003  Partner: Officer John Jenkins Las Vegas Metro Police Dept. NV K-9 Division - 4511 W. Cheyenne Ave. Suite 401 N. Las Vegas, NV 89030 - 702-229-3441 Las Vegas Police Dept. K9 Unit NV PERSONAL NOTE: John went back to work after operations and recoupiration from losing his K-9 Rudi on April 1, 2002 (LODD). He has been back on the job for 3 weeks (to my knowledge). Please send emails to John for support. sent cards over night 10/28/03 = Service 10/30/03 (submitted by Dusty Simon & Kathy Mourning) Tribute to Buddy, Rudi, The K9 officers And all the other K9’s that have passed away FROM THE CRAIG ROAD PET CEMETERY Dear God, Here’s Buddy, Please listen to my prayer, An infant he was, I know that you’re there, He gave his life, but he didn’t understand, He paid the price, which God did demand. His future cut short, I question thee why, His brothers stand firm; They serve by and by, You taught us to trust, we do as you please Your K9’s are here, whenever the need, So help us dear Lord, For this I do pray Take my life instead, so they’ll live another day. So Buddy my friend, You’ll worry no more… You’re definitely 1st class, You’re new as before. In the line of duty, your life you did give, Your legacy, your spirit, long both may they live. God has as assignment, I know you can’t wait. Your duty an honor to patrol heavens gate. You won’t be lonely; your life will be sweet, Now you will join Rudi and the others Elite. So Buddy be proud, for you know that we care, And we’ll see you in heaven, For there’s life out there. WRITTEN BY Charles Cooper     more photos in URLs below....... |
October 31, 2003 Metro officers, public say goodbye to slain police dog By Mary Manning LAS VEGAS SUN More than 100 people including several Metro Police officers with their dogs in tow Thursday filed silently by a casket containing 18-month-old Buddy, a German shepherd killed in the line of duty last week. Buddy accompanied Metro Officer John Jenkins everywhere for 30 days until a week ago today, when he was shot and killed while waiting, a muzzle over his snout, in his partner's sport utility vehicle. "The pain of the loss is not diminished by the short time we had to bond," Jenkins said, holding back tears, standing by the casket at the Craig Road Pet Cemetery. "This was a very traumatic experience. There's no way to describe the frustration I felt that night." About midnight Oct. 24 Daniel Nunez, 23, carjacked a couple stopped at a gas station at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Bonanza Road, police said. As police tried to chase Nunez down, twice more he carjacked vehicles, until he came upon Las Vegas Paiute tribal police officer Mike Hinton at Lake Mead Boulevard near Buffalo Drive. Nunez, who was armed, took Hinton's weapon and drove off in the officer's car. A tribal police dispatcher riding with Hinton flagged down Jenkins and K-9 officer David Newton, both seven-year Metro veterans. In separate vehicles, they chased the stolen tribal police car. Nunez left the car after it crashed into a pole. Mike Horn, handler and trainer for Metro's police dogs, said Nunez came at the officers firing with a gun in each hand. Jenkins returned fire as Nunez advanced on his SUV. Jenkins attempted to move his vehicle but was showered by glass as the window he was standing near was shot out. By this time Nunez was near the front of the SUV. Jenkins headed for new cover. Nunez continued firing at Jenkins, then stole his SUV. Buddy was sitting in the front seat. "I called for him to come out of the truck several times when I decided I could no longer stay there," Jenkins said, but Buddy didn't come. "Words can’t describe the frustration and pain I felt when I couldn’t get him out of the truck. My heart just sunk." Nunez shot and killed Buddy and then turned a gun on himself, police said. Jenkins described Buddy, a German Shepherd born in Holland, as playful and gentle. "If his toy wasn't around, he'd find the nearest rock," he said. Buddy's formal training was scheduled to begin this Saturday. It was the second time Jenkins experienced the loss of a police dog partner. The first was Rudi, a Belgian Malinois, who was killed in a traffic accident. Jenkins had just returned to duty with Buddy after spending 18 months in surgery and rehabilitation after the traffic accident that killed Rudi. "It was great to be back with a new partner," Jenkins said. Lt. Kent Bitsko, the police dog unit leader, said that Jenkins will have a new partner soon. K-9 officers from Murray, Utah; Phoenix; West Covina, Calif.; Henderson; North Las Vegas; Boulder City; Nye County; and the S. Air Force and Metro's Search and Rescue bloodhound team attended the funeral services, which included a color guard, a 21-gun salute and taps. Mike Horn, Metro's dog handler and trainer, said he has had several canine partners in his 18-year career. "It doesn't get easier coming out here (for a funeral.) It gets harder for me," he said. Celeste Smith and her daughter Sherry Simmons, both of Las Vegas, attended the service because they love animals. "It's such a shame he got shot because he was muzzled," Smith said, recalling how she gave her dog, a collie-shepherd mix, to the military during World War II when she was 14 years old. "I felt real good about it at the time, but I'd never do it again," she said. For Las Vegas businessman Rob Clavier the service was a way to pay back a debt of gratitude to police officers. "I was thinking about the firefighters in California and the soldiers in Iraq," Clavier said. "Police officers are really the soldiers of society." Law enforcement officers save lives, take lives and even sacrifice their own lives, Clavier said. Although Clavier did not know any of the officers, he said he respects what they do. "They are one of the few people who still make house calls." He said the only positive thing he could say about the funeral was that he was relieved that "it's a dog they were burying and not an officer." But Pat McCann, who read a brief eulogy for Buddy, said Clavier was wrong. McCann said Buddy was "an officer in fur, a rookie in training." Dogs "share in the fortune of human existence," McCann said in the eulogy. "For he is alive and well and runs with passion in his new life." Jenkins said he is ready to begin training a new partner to honor Buddy's memory. "It's my goal to get back out there and find some more bad guys with my next partner." The man who police said was responsible for carjacking five vehicles, including two police cars, and killing a police dog Friday morning was identified this morning as Daniel Nunez, 23. The Clark County coroner's office said Nunez of Las Vegas killed himself with a gunshot about 2 a.m. Friday. Metro Police said he shot himself while being chased by patrol cars along U.S. 95. He had no felony record in Nevada, police said. Police said the series of five carjackings started just after midnight Friday at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Bonanza Road, when two men took a car by force. About an hour later the stolen car crashed near the Suncoast on Rampart Boulevard, police said. Witnesses told police a person got out of Nunez's car and ran into the Suncoast parking garage, but Capt. Tom Lozich said officers couldn't find that person and called the report "unsubstantiated." Before leaving the lot, Nunez stole a sport utility vehicle instead, police said. At the corner of Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive, police said, Nunez attracted the attention of an off-duty Paiute tribal officer. Nunez pulled a gun on the officer, took the officer's gun and stole his car, police said. A passenger with the tribal officer flagged down two Metro K-9 officers who were just finishing a dinner break, and the K-9 officers chased the stolen tribal patrol car, police said. Nunez jumped from the police car at Tenaya Way and Lake Mead Boulevard, leaving the patrol car to crash. Two Metro K-9 officers, John Jenkins, 36, and David Newton, 32, both seven-year veterans of Metro, chased Nunez and exchanged gunfire with him before Nunez stole one of the K-9 SUVs and fled on U.S. 95 southbound, police said. Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said Nunez fired at the officers with both his own gun as well as the tribal officer's weapon. As he led Metro officers on a chase along U.S. 95, Monahan said, the evidence shows he shot himself in the head. The coroner's findings confirmed that conclusion. "This was pretty straightforward," Coroner Michael Murphy said this morning. "It was clear that this was self-inflicted." Police also found the muzzled police dog, Buddy, shot to death in the stolen SUV, Monahan said. The SUV crashed into the center median near the Jones Boulevard exit. "Buddy was a newer dog and he and his handler were just getting to know each other," Lozich said. "He was just starting his career with Metro." Buddy was expected to become an active member of the K-9 Unit early next year. A funeral for Buddy will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Craig Road Pet Cemetery near Tenaya Way in northwest Las Vegas. Many other Metro service dogs killed in the line of duty are buried there. Metro's K-9 unit has 25 dogs -- patrol, bomb-detection and drug-detection dogs. The dogs can cost up to $5,000 each and including training, the costs can total $15,000 to $20,000 per dog. Friday's fatal shooting of a Metro Police dog was the second time that a Metro dog has been killed in the line of duty. A third was accidentally killed by the officer who was supposed to be taking care of it. On March 28, 2002, another dog, Rudi, was crippled when the police car he was riding in while headed to a call was struck by another car. Rudi, a 2 1/ 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, was later put to sleep. In April 1999 another Metro dog died when he was accidentally locked in a patrol car in an officer's garage. Fred, a 4-year-old German shepherd, was staying in an officer's garage until his kennel could be built. When the officer came home and saw his small son on a tricycle heading for the street, he parked his car in the garage and went to get his son. Fred apparently saw the open car door and got inside the vehicle. The officer closed the door without knowing that Fred was inside. |
|
| late entry...... In Loving memory of K-9 Clevely AXEL AKA "BUCK" (Nemo v Adeloga x Briarmore Panja) 4th June, 1991 - 21st July, 2000  Handlers: Heather Macdonald & David Greer Zulu Police Department South Queensferry, Scotland. Telephone: 0131 331 3698 |
Buck is the
one on the left
alongside his friend P.D Zulu. Zulu is still a serving Police dog with
Lothian and Borders Police. Buck was born on the 4th June
1991 and at around 8 months found him
self recruited to Lothian and Borders Police in Edinburgh. At around 12
months, Buck developed a 'skin condition', which although kept at bay
for years was never really cured. Due to this, he became a regular
visitor to the vets, who over the years came to know and love Buck, as
we did. At around 41/2 years old, Buck was retired from the Police and
came to live at home with us, as part of the family. Being used to life
in a kennel, Buck found life in front of the fire ' brilliant', so much
so, if he found himself too close to the kennels in the garden, he
would immediately walk in the other direction. Buck became
our constant
companion and went everywhere with us, even on holiday.
We learned an
awful lot about dogs and their immense resilience from Buck and for
that, we will always be grateful. On the morning of Friday
21st July, 2000, we had to make that
impossible decision to let him go. Once made, we vowed to make this day
a special one. His friends and admirers came to say goodbye, bringing
with them treats such as chocolate and cheese, which Buck adored. The
afternoon was spent alone with him, at a nearby beach, a place Buck
loved to visit and a place that will always remind us of
him. At 7.03pm, we said our own very tearful goodbye, cuddling him right to the end, his last memory being us and the piece of chocolate, which was half eaten. It was, and still is very emotional for us. Even the vet, Jim Ford and his nurse Joanne Cruden were upset, as they had known Buck for a number of years and grown very attached to him. Everyone who met him loved him. He had such a strong but gentle character, very reliable, yet fearless in his protection of those he loved, he was and still is a great ambassador for the breed. Buck was that 'special' dog who will always be in our hearts. For us Buck is what a German Shepherd Dog should be…. Buck you are never far from our thoughts and always in our hearts - sleep peacefully my sweet. |
|
| In Loving Memory
of K-9 BALI LODD April 4, 2002 October 23, 2003  Partner: Cpl. A. Kaldewaay Las Angeles Police Dept. address:
|
He
ordered a female passenger out and drove off. The woman
flagged down two
Metro K-9 officers who were finishing a dinner break
nearby. They
saw the tribal
patrol car heading east on Lake Mead Boulevard and gave
chase, Monahan said.
Between
Buffalo Drive and Tenaya Way, the man bailed out of the
stolen patrol
car, which
continued moving several hundred yards before it
crashed to a stop,
Monahan said.
The man started firing at the K-9 officers with a gun in each hand, Monahan said. One officer returned fire and drove around to get into a better position. Monahan said. The other stopped and took cover behind his patrol car, an Expedition sport-utility vehicle, he said. When the second officer tried to get back into his SUV to move, the gunman shot out his driver's side window, Monahan said. The officer took cover again, and the gunman jumped into the patrol SUV and took off, he said. It's only the second time in his 19-year career Monahan could remember a patrol car being stolen. "We're trained to get out of our cars," Monahan said. "The last thing you worry about when you're taking fire is whether the car is still running." At some point in the stolen K-9 vehicle, the man shot the police dog, who was muzzled, to death, Monahan said. He drove the SUV onto U.S. 95. Other officers joined the chase on the freeway. "The evidence suggests that the suspect shot himself once in the head while driving at freeway speed," Monahan said. The SUV continued about half a mile along the freeway, then crashed into the concrete barrier, he said. The gunman, who had not been identified this morning, was pronounced dead at the scene, Monahan said. Monahan said the gunman appeared to have died of a gunshot wound in the head anddid not appear to have other wounds, but an autopsy, to be conducted Saturday, would determine the official cause of death. Toxicology tests also will be done, Monahan said. No one other than the gunman and police dog was harmed, Monahan said. Monahan said it was lucky that the series of chases occurred late at night. "Were this to happen at 2 in the afternoon instead of 2 in the morning, we probably would have had bodies all over Lake Mead," Monahan said. Themultiple police scenes caused Lake Mead Boulevard from Buffalo to Tenaya to beclosed during the rush hour, as well as part of U.S. 95. The freeway was openedabout 8 a.m. Lake Mead reopened about 10:15 a.m. About 8:30 a.m., police began to let people walk across the streets to the many shops and businesses in the area near the shooting. "I'm a little surprised that this happened in this neighborhood, but it doesn't sound like it started here. I guess these things can end up anywhere," said Dina Anderson, a nail technician at Destination Garden Spa, 7331 W. Lake Mead Blvd.At nearby Cimarron-Memorial High School, Principal Janice Rowland said as a precaution the school locked the gates leading to the parking lot during first period. "We did that so that we could make sure we knew who was coming in and out of campus," Rowland said. "Other than that, it's been business as usual for us, with the exception of a lot of tardies this morning. "Stacey Fishberg, a massage therapist who works with Anderson, worried about how the street closures would affect the business. "We're going to be losing hundreds of dollars today. Fridays are our big days and make our week for us," she said. But the two spa employees said the thing that most upset them was the news that the police dog had been killed |