Katie with handler Malachi Powery in hap–pier times.
Custom’s K–9 Katie was put to rest Sunday after a long and distinguished career in crime fighting. The 15–year veteran Labrador retriever was buried with honour and commendation in the yard of West Bay handler Malachi Powery. Katie – responsible for three generations of dogs, some of which now work for the K–9 unit – served the Customs Department from July 1993 until she was retired in November 2002. During her tenure with the department she was instrumental in detecting several drug finds. She was also responsible for bringing in revenue of over $30,000 from fines. She was also one of the first dogs brought to Cayman to work with the department and used by the Custom’s Department in many drug sniffing narcotics raids and firearms detection cases with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Katie was also involved in schools and civic organisations anti–drug demonstrations. “Because she was such a playful dog she interacted very well with the children,” said Mr. Powery. Mr. Powery a trainer, partner, friend and family to Katie, said his dog was fearless and courageous in the line of duty. He loved Katie so much that when she became ill, he took her home to care–– for her during her final days. “’Everyone gets attached to their dogs. They become one of the officers and one of the guys. “Katie was the best dog a partner could have. She was a faithful partner and will be hard to replace. She was special and deserved the best of care during her illness. Although I have another dog called Scooby, Katie will always have a special place in my heart,” he said. Katie was buried alongside her offspring Tracker, which died in the line of duty. K–9 handlers and friends gathered Sunday in a tribute to Katie, which died of complications due to old age; she was 108 in human years. “Some people might not understand why we saw it fitting to give Katie a burial of acknowledgement but to officers that work with these dogs they are faithful partners,” said Mr. Powery. “We depend on them as much as they depend on us. I hope by taking this step, K–9 dog burials will be taken to another level. Also I am hoping that some sort of emotional counselling or compassionate leave and time to relax be put in place. After all, sometimes we have to put our lives in the hands of these dogs who sometimes take a bullet for us.”   submitted by Jim Cortina
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is the standing police force of the British overseas territory of the Cayman Islands. The police force was formed in 1907 and currently (as of 27 October 2006) stands at 366 enlisted officers, with 54 civilians.

The Waynesboro Police Department reported that Kizmet, the department’s lone canine, succumbed to 
cancer on Monday. The male German Shepherd joined the force as a 4-year-old in 1999. “It’s definitely a loss for us,” said Sgt. Kelly Walker. “Kizmet was a great dog.” Waynesboro police will rely on other area law enforcement canine units until Kizmet is replaced.
*****
Deputy Chief William R. Maki -  submitted the below information.
Waynesboro Police Department
540.942.6684
His career here was exceptional.  An example is in the second quarter of 2003 Kizmet was given an award by
the USPCA for the top case.  I have attached two documents.  One describes the case and was the nomination letter.  The second is an internal commendation for Kizmet's handler, Officer Jessie Shaver. The award in 2003 was just one of his exceptional finds.  By far, Kizmet and Officer Shaver were the best drug detection team I have observed in my 27 years in law enforcement.
*******
Officer Jessie H. Shaver, Specialist II        August 1, 2003
Waynesboro Police Department

Dear Officer Shaver:
I am pleased to recognize your receipt of the United States Police Canine Association’s Region Three Quarterly Case Award for Detector Dogs.  This award comes as the result of your hard work to ensure the Waynesboro Police Department has a highly trained canine to assist us.  After being nominated by me, the USPCA selected the actions of you and Kizmet as the Top Case for the Second Quarter of 2003.
I can only echo the facts in the nomination letter and appreciate that you have worked so diligently and effectively to provide the police department with a canine of the highest abilities.
Sincerely,
Major William R. Maki, Acting Chief
********
The United States Police Canine Association, Inc.     April 11, 2003
Region Three Awards Committee
20 Hickory Ridge Drive
Falmouth, Virginia  22405-1440

Dear Sir:
This letter is to inform you about a case you may wish to consider for the Top Case for the Quarter. 
It involved a narcotics search by Waynesboro PD’s canine handler Specialist Jessie Shaver and Kizmet.
On Tuesday, April 8, 2003 Specialist Shaver was requested to assist with a narcotics search warrant being served jointly by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Department and Waynesboro PD.  The area to be searched was suspected to contain methamphetamine and was unusual because the suspect ran a car repair and towing business.  The area to be searched contained around fifteen junked cars and the area had been used as a junk yard for years.  The grounds were contaminated with spilled automotive fluids, broken glass, old auto parts, household trash from the residence and three other dogs were running at large.  In addition to the residence, a garage where mechanical work was done occupied the property along with several storage buildings.
Once the search warrant was executed and all the parties were secured the search began.  Specialist Shaver and Kizmet began the search on the west side of the property and worked their way eastward.  While doing so, Kizmet showed no interest in any of the vehicles until he got to a junked Ford Taurus.  As Kizmet approached the Taurus, he showed a change in behavior near the right front of the vehicle.  Kizmet kept sniffing the car and then gave an aggressive alert on the passenger’s door handle.  Specialist Shaver opened the door and Kizmet went inside.   The car was full of junked auto parts.  Kizmet began to search the front area and then went to the back floorboard area.  He placed his head and nose under some car parts and then gave an aggressive alert on a black bag that was hidden under the parts.  Kizmet was then rewarded and taken out.  A search of the black bag found over two pounds of marijuana, over one pound of methamphetamine and several other eight balls of methamphetamine. Some of the methamphetamine and marijuana were in vacuum sealed bags. I think this case is noteworthy due to the contamination, size and difficulty of the search area and offer it for your consideration.  If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Major William R. Maki
Deputy Chief of Police
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA & Major Wm. R. Maki
UPDATE:
Waynesboro, Va.
Last Updated: 6:01 PM Jun 27, 2008
Reporter: Meg Gatto - Email Address: mgatto@whsv.com
Waynesboro Police have a new K-9 dog to assist them with crimes in the field. The department got the dog, named Xareta, following the loss of their old K-9, Kizmit, who died of cancer last year.
During an awards luncheon Friday, officers paid tribute to Kizmit, while welcoming the new addition to their unit.The dog will help the department in various ways because it's so highly trained. Officer Jesse Shaver says, "She's trained in narcotics, search and rescue tracking and evidence or article search as they call it."Shaver says the only way the department was able to purchase Xareta was through two generous donations by Waynesboro residents. update -submitted by lulu

FM police mourn passing of police dog
The traditional purple and blue bunting won’t be hung on Fort Myers police headquarters. Flags will remain at full staff and badges won’t be draped with mourning bands, dogs don’t rate such honors. Yet, officers said, there is a void in the department left by the death of police dog “Officer Konig.”  Described by police spokeswoman Shelly Flynn as one of the most productive and hardworking of the department’s six dog K-9 unit, “Officer Konig” responded to 1,130 callouts during his six years with the Fort Myers police. In that time he searched 185 buildings, 413 vehicles and was credited with 157 apprehensions, with 46 of them literally feeling the law’s bite. “Officer Konig” died of an infection related to an aggressive cancer, Flynn said. He died on duty with his partner, Officer Ezra Padgham, she added. Police and K-9 units from area departments will gather Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Riverside Community Center, 3061 E. Riverside Drive, Fort Myers for a memorial service. 
++++++++++
A memorial service for Officer Konig will be held this Sunday, August 26 at 5:00 p.m.
at the Riverside Community Center located at 3061 East Riverside Drive.

Owner/Handler: Chris & Chika Litwin
Stamford, CT
Stamford family mourns death of celebrity canine 8/4/07 Connecticut

Kiki, a black Labrador retriever who became a world champion dock jumper and national celebrity, died last week after escaping from his fenced-in back yard in Stamford and getting struck by a car. Kiki was 8 years old. "We're absolutely distraught," said owner Chris Litwin, who, with his wife Chika, trained and managed the dog since he was a puppy. "But we're fortunate for a couple of things. He didn't see it coming and he didn't suffer." Kiki helped popularize dog jumping competitions with his ascendancy in the sport. He won the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge and set a world record twice - first in 2001 when he jumped 25 feet, and in 2002 when he jumped 26 feet, 9 inches. He held the record for four years. During the height of his fame, Kiki appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman," Animal Planet, and ESPN. He flew coach on American Airlines, drew sponsors and launched a T-shirt line. His two appearances at the Norwalk Oyster Festival drew huge crowds. The Litwins purchased Kiki, a purebred, when he was 8 weeks old. When the Litwins began taking Kiki to Mianus River Park to play three weeks later, they discovered the puppy's jumping skills as he leaped off a ledge and into the water. "We were shocked at how far he could jump," Litwin told the Advocate in 2002. Kiki died July 27, while the Litwins were away for a day on a business trip in New Hampshire. Litwin called his next-door neighbor on his way home to inform him that they were running late and that Kiki's offspring, Luna, may start barking as she tended to do at nightfall when they weren't home. He suggested his neighbor take a toy over to the dogs to pacify them if the barking got out of control. The Litwins returned to an opened gate and a voicemail message from the neighbor that the dogs had escaped. The neighbor had tried to put the dogs downstairs and close the dog door. But when he opened the gate, Kiki and Luna darted out. A woman on Cedar Heights Road found Luna. But a different fate awaited Kiki. Police called Litwin at about 11:30 p.m. and told him that Kiki had been fatally struck by a car and was lying on Long Ridge Road near Xerox Corp. Litwin, 43, cried when he heard the news. "I'm still in shock, a week later, that my boy is not here," he said. With help from his neighbor, Litwin buried Kiki in his back yard where Kiki had already dug a 3-foot hole. "We figured he started it," he said, "so we finished it." News of Kiki's death has spread through the community of dog enthusiasts. "It was a heartbreaker because this was a dog who grew up in our store," said Andy Avigdor, general manger of the Norwalk-based Choice Pet Supply, one of Kiki's sponsors. Mourners are posting comments on www.dockdogs.com. "I am at a loss for words," Tom Dropik wrote. "The first thing that comes to mind when something like this happens is the events, the scores, and all that, seem a bit insignificant. "It's about our relationship with our dogs. It's about the time we spend with them." "The loss of Kiki is Devistating (sic)," wrote Angie, Nestle and Mercy. "Kiki was one of the great pioneers of the sport, probably the best at snagging the Frisbee out of the air and always exciting to watch."  Kiki's legacy will live on through the annual Kiki Classic, a dog jumping competition. Litwin plans to turn the competition into a national event honoring all dogs that have died each year. Litwin also plans to raise money for Stamford Animal Control; Lab Rescue of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, a nonprofit animal placement group based in metropolitan Washington, D.C.; and Chase Away K9 Cancer, a charity that raises money for animal health studies. This year's fourth annual classic will be held on the weekend of Sept. 7 in Millerton, N.Y.
- Donations can be made to Kiki Company, 57 Redfox Rd., Stamford CT, 06903.
submitted by Jim Cortina, DIR CPWDA

Many thoughts in my head,
Times when you were the only one there,
Moments that made me want to pull my hair.
I look to the sky as the stars gaze down.
All moments are a thought,
But one will never be…it is a dream.
Everyone will fly,
They will all fly higher than the sky.
High enough to sit on the stars,
The stars stare down at the living,
Staring down at those they love.
As the night nears and the stars appear,
Wishes are made on the stars,
A wish on a star,
It is a message to the ones that we lost,
As they sit on a star, they can hear us.
One day, we will all sit on the stars,
Join the ones that we love,
And view from spectacular heights.
“Believe you can fly”
Julia Aldridge
July 1, 2007
In memory of K9 Kaiser
***********
It is with deep regret that I have to announce the passing of my retired K9 partner, Kaiser, of the Shelton Police Department. Kaiser passed early this morning, at home, peacefully in his bed, he was 13 years old. I have made arrangements for a funeral for him in Glastonbury at Candlewick Kennels, but the date has not been set yet. I will keep you informed on these as soon as I know. Kaiser was the best partner I have had in my 23 years of police service 8 of which we spent together on the road. We miss him greatly. Cathi Schneider 
(this part submitted by Cathi)
Retired Shelton Police Canine passes away
Shelton – Canine Officer Kaiser entered the Connecticut State Police Canine Academy on March 3, 1997 along with his partner/handler OFC Cathi Schneider. Kaiser was adopted from a family in Branford but soon became a regular member of the Schneider household. Schneider along with her two sons, Justin and Joshua, helped Kaiser adapt to their normal routine in a matter of hours. Kaiser followed Schneider around the house like he had been there all his life; Kaiser was 1 and a half years old at the time. They entered the Academy shortly after the adoption.  Kaiser soon learned the tracking, obedience, and patrol techniques and graduated with a Top Dog honor in the Obstacles class. Kaiser retired from the force in April 2005 and lived at the Schneider home. K9 Kaiser, beloved partner of OFC Cathi Schneider passed away on Sunday, July 1, 2007, peacefully with his family at his side.     K9-Kaiser and Schneider hit the streets in June of 1997 and Kaiser showed that his 16 weeks of intensive training had paid off when he located a missing teenager within 15 minutes of her disappearance. Kaiser and Schneider were both given a commendation for their efforts. During his 8 years of working on the Shelton Police force Kaiser located numerous missing persons, both young and old. He was also instrumental in locating dozens of suspects from burglaries. Kaiser was even called to testify in one of those cases, but was called off when Schneider found out through the court that the suspect had changed his mind and was going to plead guilty rather than have the canine and his handler come to testify. Kaiser was called out for various tracks including suspect and missing persons. He was also instrumental in locating lost and missing items. He once ran a track to attempt to locate a missing chain saw that had been stolen from a home in Shelton.  The chain saw was in the woods for well over a week and Police Detectives had received word that it was in a wooded area off of Nells Rock Rd.  At the time it seemed that the item would not be located because it had been there for so long and there was a slim chance that human scent would still be present. Usually the scent is overcome by the scents of the woods. There was no specific area that was given as to where police could look and the area was over three acres of woods.  Kaiser entered the wooded area and began to “sniff’ around. He located the chain saw; still in it’s case, under a large pile of brush. The saw would not have been seen with the naked eye because there was too much brush covering it.  Kaiser was instrumental in solving a long running vandalism in a Shelton neighborhood. The canine unit was called upon the day after a home had been vandalized for the third time. This time the suspect had thrown a large rock through the front picture window during the night. The vandalism had occurred 12 hours before the unit was called on. Kaiser was given the rock the suspect used to “scent” off of and he began to track the suspect, locating him within 100 yards of the crime scene. Kaiser identified the suspect and the person was arrested and convicted.  Kaiser was also good at quelling loud parties and domestic disturbances. Kaiser and OFC Schneider would roll up to the scene and all of a sudden everyone would get extremely quiet, probably due to Kaiser’s very loud bark. Kaiser bark and presence was enough to stop all fighting and arguing in almost every case where they were sent for a disturbance. People would say that they could hear Kaiser two blocks away when he was barking, inside a police cruiser. Kaiser was extremely intelligent. One time they were assisting Detectives who were following a murder suspect. The Canine cruiser was second in line. When Detectives pulled the suspect vehicle over Kaiser came from the back area of the cruiser to stand across Schneider’s lap, in readiness to leap from the vehicle to apprehend the suspect should he run. Of course this did not happen, because Kaiser was barking so loudly and the suspect must have figured that it would have been worthless to try an out run the dog. Guess he was right because he came out of the vehicle on command and surrendered to police immediately.      Kaiser not only worked for the citizens of Shelton, but also assisted the neighboring Valley towns. They would handle calls when Seymour and Ansonia’s canine Units were unavailable. They also worked in Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Cheshire, Newtown and Hartford answering the call for canine assistance. Along with the numerous police calls that Kaiser was called for there was also a great demand for Canine Demonstrations. Kaiser and Schneider worked all the DARE graduations in the town of Shelton, along with performing dual demonstrations with Ansonia. They gave numerous talks for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts along with Senior Citizen facilities in the Valley. Everyone knew who Kaiser was and the children loved him. They would give a talk for the children and occasionally have a child hide in a closet or behind a bookcase and the have Kaiser find them.  There was always a long discussion on who would be the one to hide, as all of the children wanted to be the one to hide for Kaiser to find. He was as friendly as he was business-like and always knew which was which. He never confused the two. Schneider never had to worry that he was going to take a nip at someone. Kaiser was a highly trained police dog and proved his worth every time he was called for either work or to give a demonstration.      Kaiser has been the best partner that Schneider has had in her 23-year police career and he will be sadly missed. He was not only a partner, but also her very best friend. He never complained on her choice of lunch spots and always was agreeable to do whatever she wanted to do, especially to train. Kaiser was in excellent shape when he was working and never tired of tracking a suspect or missing person and was always ready to go no matter the hour or the weather.  The department has not had a patrol canine officer since Kaiser’s retirement in 2005, but the department is looking to add a new dog to the force in the next year. 
update: 7/21/07
The city's police department recognized the passing of one of its own recently, after Kaiser, retired K-9 dog, partner of Officer Cathi Schneider, died July 1 peacefully with his family by his side. Canine Officer Kaiser entered the Connecticut State Police Canine Academy on March 3, 1997, along with his partner/handler Officer Cathi Schneider. Kaiser was adopted from a family in Branford but soon became a regular member of the Schneider household. Schneider, along with her two sons, Justin and Joshua, helped Kaiser adapt to their normal routine in a matter of hours. Kaiser retired from the police force two years ago after Schneider underwent back surgery and resigned from the K-9 unit. Today Schneider is a school resource officer at Shelton High School, and while she very much enjoys her position, she still attributes the best years of her career to the years she spent with Kaiser as her partner. "The eight years I was with him were the best of my career, without a doubt. He took me places I never would have gone, and I learned things I never would have learned," said Schneider, who also said that the 16 weeks of training she underwent with Kaiser were the "best, hardest training" she has undergone as a police officer.
"I had no idea what to expect from him, and you learn everything together," said Schneider of the training. "By the end of the 16 weeks you are amazed at what the dog can do, and for them, it's all fun and games." In June of 1997 Officer Schneider and K-9 Kaiser began hitting the streets and the weeks of intensive training proved to payoff when Kaiser located a missing teenager within 15 minutes of her disappearance. During his eight years of working with the Shelton Police Department, Kaiser located numerous missing persons, both young and old. He was instrumental in locating dozens of suspects from burglaries, and was even called to testify in one of those cases, but was called off when Schneider found out through the court that the suspect had changed his mind and was going to plead guilty rather than have the canine and his handler come to testify. He was also instrumental in locating lost and missing items. He once ran a track to attempt to locate a missing chainsaw that had been stolen from a home in Shelton. The chainsaw was located in the woods for more than a week in a wooded area off of Nells Rock Road. He located the chainsaw, still in its case, under a large pile of brush. Kaiser was instrumental in solving a long-running vandalism case in a Shelton neighborhood. The canine unit was called upon after a home had been vandalized for the third time. This time the suspect had thrown a large rock through the front picture window during the night. he vandalism had occurred 12 hours before the unit was called on. Kaiser was given the rock the suspect used to 'scent' off of and he began to track the suspect, locating him within 100 yards of the crime scene. Kaiser identified the suspect and the person was arrested and convicted. Kaiser not only worked for the citizens of Shelton, but also assisted the neighboring Valley towns. Together Kaiser and Schneider would handle calls when Seymour and Ansonia's canine units were not available. They also worked in Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Cheshire, Newtown and Hartford, answering the call for canine assistance. Along with the numerous police calls that Kaiser was called for, there was also a great demand for canine demonstrations. Kaiser and Schneider worked all the Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduations in the town of Shelton, along with performing dual demonstrations with Ansonia. They gave numerous talks for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts along with senior citizen facilities in the Valley. "He had an excellent disposition for a police dog," said Police Chief Joel Hurliman, who said that while the force has not had a canine patrol officer since Kaiser, the department is looking to add a new dog to the force this budget year While Kaiser was "all business" when he was on command, when given the signal, the 90-pound German Shepard was all about having fun. "He was like a big Marmaduke," said Schneider, likening him to the lovable cartoon dog. Schneider said she feels "awful" about losing her greatest partner, one who never complained about where she went for lunch or what coffee spots she chose. Kaiser died of natural causes in Schneider's home; he was 13 years old. A memorial service was held for Kaiser at Candlewicke Kennels in Glastonbury, where his remains have been buried, alongside many other service dogs from around the state. "He did things I didn't think animals could do. He was above and beyond," said Schneider. 
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday announced with sadness the death of “Koda”, a police dog who has served with the agency since February of this year. According to Captain Tim Edwards, Koda, a Belgian Malinois (pronounced MAL-in-wah), and his handler were off duty and visiting out of the area when the dog forced his way out of a portable kennel in the handler’s personal vehicle, consumed a large amount of dog food stored in the car, then began eating the car seats. “The combination of the large amount of dog food and the foam from the car seats apparently caused an airway blockage or respiratory distress,” Edwards said. An investigation determined that there was no negligence on the part of the handler, the Captain reported, adding that leaving the dog kenneled in a vehicle is not an uncommon practice. The K-9 Unit consists of teams of officers and dogs trained in tracking and narcotics detection.  Dogs are trained to locate suspects who have walked or run away from crime scenes or have barricaded themselves in a building/house. They are also trained to protect the handler and to hold a violent or dangerous person from escaping. The K-9 team members are on-call 24 hours a day.    submitted by Jim Cortina
*******
Deschutes County Sheriff's Office K-9 Koda has died in an unfortunate sequence of events, the agency reported Wednesday. The 2-year-old dog, a Belgian Malinois, died earlier this week while Koda and his handler were off-duty, visiting out of the area, said sheriff's Capt. Tim Edwards, who announced the news "with great sadness" in a press release.Koda, which joined the force in February, had been left in his portable kennel in the handler's personal car, a situation Edwards said "is not uncommon."  While his handler was away, Koda forced his way out of the kennel and consumed a large amount of dog food being stored in the car, Edwards said. Koda then proceeded to eat the seats of the car, ingesting foam from the car seats, Edwards said. The combination of the large amount of dog food and the foam from the car seats apparently caused an airway blockage or respiratory distress, leading to his death, the captain said. "An investigation determined that there was no negligence on the part of the handler," Edwards said. "He was a high-drive dog," the captain said. "It was just one of those tragedies." By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM - submitted by Renee` Konias

AKA; Kayo was known to the public as "Wojo" short for Wojohowicz, which was picked by a school contest to name the Police Dog. Kayo a dual purpose K-9 for the Hastings Police Dept. In Nebraska died on 04/27/07. Kayo served with his handler Officer Ed Burmood from April 10th 2000 until his death. Kayo has many accomplishments for his short career. They include many drug bust, several apprehensions, including those of armed suspects. He was also credited with saving officers lives and preventing them from being harmed by their attackers. During a seminar Kayo competed with about 40 other teams and brought home a couple of trophies.  Kayo was loved by his community and those that hepreformed demo's for. He will be greatly missed.
UPDATE>>>>>>> 5/1/07 - Nebraska
The following is a press release from the Hastings Police Department:
The Hastings Police Department sadly reports the death of Hastings Police Canine Wojo.  Wojo was found dead in his kennel at approximately 7:00 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2007. A postmortem examination was conducted Friday afternoon. At this time, the cause of death has not been determined. Wojo, a nine-year old Belgium Malanois was a 7-year veteran of police service. Wojo and his handler, Officer Ed Burmood were very active in the community.The team conducted numerous public service demonstrations. In 2000, the Hastings Police Department involved school students in selecting the name of the newly acquired police canine. Wojo was selected. He was named after Detective Stan 'Wojo' Wojciehowicz from the Barney Miller television series. Wojo was valued member of the organization and will be missed.  Submitted by Brenda Burmood _& Jim Cortina

Montevallo police chief Kevin Peters speaks at a memorial Thursday for Kilo, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd who served as the departments canine unit. Kilo died April 3 from large cell lymphoma.  Police officers from all over Shelby County turned out Thursday to remember a fallen comrade -- one whose work was always right on the nose.  Montevallo’s drug sniffing officer, Kilo, died early last month after a brief battle with large cell lymphoma. The 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd was euthanatized April 3 by a local veterinarian. For his years of service, Kilo was remembered Thursday afternoon with a memorial service at the Orr Park Gazebo. “He was very much a part of this department,” said Montevallo Police Chief Kevin Peters. “He will be very much missed.”  Officer Chad Lovelady, who trained Kilo from a puppy, got a little teary-eyed when describing what his dog meant to him and the Montevallo Police Department. “He was a great partner and a great friend,” said Lovelady. “He was loved and is in a better place now.” Lovelady, 32, and his wife, Jessica, described Kilo as a smart, loyal dog who loved to go to work each day. “He brought so much joy to us,” said Lovelady.  Chief Peters said the service was a fitting way to pay tribute to a fallen comrade — albeit a four-legged one. “This is a great loss to our department. A dog has a love that is what we all should strive for -- it is an unconditional love,” said Peters. “There’s no doubt Kilo would have given his life for Chad.” The department expects to receive another dog from the Alabama Canine Unit in the coming months. Until then, Lovelady will bring Hiako, a Belgian Malinois, out of an early retirement.
submitted by C. Hope  Email:Christopher.Hope@alacop.gov Phone: (205) 665-255

e-mail ddewey@dps.state.vt.us    -    Police 'hero dog' Kilo dies
The Colchester Police Department grappled Tuesday with the loss of one of its most well-known members.
Kilo, the black German shepherd that gained local fame as a police canine, died Monday night during orthopedic surgery at the Vermont Veterinary Surgical Center in Colchester. Kilo was 8 years old. Kilo underwent surgery because of a swollen leg, and doctors discovered a widespread infection, said Officer David Dewey, Kilo's handler. Kilo had undergone a previous surgery. Police did not know the origin of the infection on Tuesday. "He was my best friend. As far as a partner to work with. He smells a little, drools a lot, barks a lot, but I could not have asked for a better partner," Dewey said. "You just can't compare." Trained for canine police work since he was a 6-week-old puppy in Winooski, Kilo came to Colchester with Dewey in 2002 and became a regular fixture in felony arrests, drug searches and missing-person investigations in Chittenden County. Dewey said Kilo was on hand for a recent burglary, in which the suspect ran out the back door before being apprehended by police."He said he remembered Kilo and did not want to get bit by him," Dewey said. "That's why he ran." The dog also was a much-loved fixture at Special Olympics Vermont and Colchester schools, appearing regularly at career events, winter carnivals and drug education programs. Colchester Police Sgt. Jeff Fontaine described the connection Kilo helped forge between students and police as "awesome." "The barriers certainly came down. It was an awesome bridge between the school kids and police," Fontaine said. Police were often stopped on the street by students and Colchester residents, who asked how the dog was doing. Fontaine said he knew that news of Kilo's passing would come as a shock to community members who were allowed to stop and interact with the dog as long as he wasn't working. A 2004 inductee into the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame as a "hero dog," Kilo and Dewey were named the 2006 Patrol Team of the Year by the Vermont Police K-9 Association. The pair were still out, working together, within the last week, Fontaine said."I never heard anybody complain about Kilo," Fontaine said, "other than the bad guys." 
submitted by Jim Cortina

Kufkey was born in the Czech Republic and began his career with the LPD in 1996. He was the City’s third police canine, protecting Lakeville citizens for almost seven years. Kufkey’s work, along with handler Beth Eilers, resulted in numer­ous arrests and drug seizures, along with the ap­prehension of many criminals. He also participated in many public demonstrations and was well known throughout the community. In addition to his success on the street, Kufkey earned many titles in competition, including Top Rookie Dog in 1997,4th Place 
overall in 1998 and Top Dog Overall in 2000. In 2000, Kufkey was also the recipient of the prestigious
Tim “Nipper” Jones and Laser Spirit Award. In 1999, Kufkey achieved national ranking at USPCA National 
Field Trials as a member of the 5th place regional team and the 6th place team in the National Narcotic Detector trials. Kufkey retired in 2003. He enjoyed his retirement years, taking long walks and swimming at his favorite lake up north. He will be sadly missed by those who knew him.  submitted by:  ?

Post-Tribune staff report  March 2, 2006 IN
K-9 Karr, a Schererville canine officer since 1999, died Sunday.  His handler, Officer Vince Bertossi, said Karr weighed between 90 and 100 pounds, but could calm a restless group of people just by his presence.  He could attack on command,but he was gentle with children.  Bertossi misses him deeply. “I spent more time with that dog than with any other living creature over the past seven years,” he said.  Karr died after surgery to remove a tumor on his spleen. After the operation, the surgeon told Bertossi that Karr also had tumors on his liver and his time was limited; Karr died a few hours later. A German shepherd, Karr was born in the Netherlands and was brought to the United States to be a police dog. He was almost 2 years old when Bertossi trained with him at the Landheim Training Center near St. John.  Karr was certified annually by the North American Police Work Dog Association.  “He was an excellent dog,” Bertossi said. “He never failed to qualify.”  A multipurpose dog, Karr was trained for tracking, narcotics detection and crowd control and he did all those tasks for Schererville and neighboring police departments.  He and Bertossi also demonstrated their skills at schools. After the work day, they returned to Bertossi’s family.  Karr’s outstanding attribute was his attention and devotion. “He really listened,” Bertossi said. “The obedience was incredible.”  The Schererville Police Department now has one police dog team — Lt. Larry Mysliwiec and his partner, Boss, a 101Ú2-year-old German shepherd.  The department is looking at its options now for replacing Karr, Cmdr. Randy Reno said.  The department will also commemorate Karr during a Police Memorial Week ceremony in May.  K9 Karr was purchased from breeders in the Czech Republic by the Landheim Training Center in Dyer, Indiana. 
 submitted by Jim Cortina

need photo

Handler: name
Montgomery County Sheriff
Montgomery County, Alabama Sheriff's Office
115 S. Perry St. Montgomery, Alabama 36103
(334) 832-4980 

Diamond Pet Food on Dec. 20 issued a recall for the products manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina facility where a product has been found contaminated with aflatoxin.  Aflatoxin is a group of toxic metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus flavus, commonly found in or on corn, peanuts, nuts and other crops. The company recommended distributors hold the sale of all Diamond Pet Food products formulated with corn that were produced in the Gaston facility.  Products removed from sale included Diamond Low Fat Dog Food, Diamond Hi-Energy Dog Food, Diamond Maintenance Dog Food, Diamond Performance Dog Food, Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food, Diamond Puppy Food, Diamond Maintenance Cat Food, Diamond Professional Cat Food, Country Value Puppy, Country Value Adult Dog, Country Value High Energy Dog, Country Value Adult Cat Food, Professional Chicken & Rice Senior Dog Food, Professional Reduced Fat Chicken & Rice Dog Food, Professional Adult Dog Food, Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food, Professional Puppy Food, Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food, Professional Adult Cat Food.  Diamond Pet Food said products manufactured at facilities in Meta, Missouri and Lathrop, California were not affected.  The Gaston facility date codes are unique from other Diamond facility codes in that either the eleventh or twelfth character in the date code will be a capital "G" (in reference to Gaston). The range of date codes being reviewed are "Best By 01-March-07" through Best By " 11-June-07". Diamond's quantitative analysis records substantiate that Diamond's corn shipments were definitively clear of aflatoxin after December 10. As such, "Best By 11-June-07" date codes or later are not affected, according to the company.  States affected by the products include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky (eastern), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont, and Virginia.  Symptoms of aflatoxin induced illness include sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes and/or gums), and severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea and fever. When a pet shows any of such symptoms, it should be taken to a veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment, the company suggested. Later on Dec 30, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer alert on the contaminated pet food after learning that 23 dogs died and another 18 dogs became ill. As of Jan. 6, more than 100 dogs have died from the illness caused by the contaminated pet food, according to Cornell News Service.  According to the FDA, the contaminated pet food was exported to 28 countries including countries in Europe, which have been notified of the safety issue.  The FDA has established action levels for aflatoxin present in food or feed to protect human and animal health. According to the Food Safety Research Information Office, an agency of the Department of Agriculture, Aflatoxin levels must not exceed: 
- 20 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for immature animals (including immature poultry) and for dairy animals, or when its destination is not known;
- 20 ppb - For animal feeds, other than corn or cottonseed meal;
- 100 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for breeding beef cattle, breeding swine, or mature poultry;
- 200 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for finishing swine of 100 pounds or greater;
- 300 ppb - For corn and other grains intended for finishing (i.e., feedlot) beef cattle and for cottonseed meal intended for beef cattle, swine or poultry.
Facts about aflatoxins
* Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxins that are metabolic byproducts of fungi, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus parasiticus,
which grow on many food crops under favorable conditions. 
* Aflatoxin is an mycotoxin literally means poison from a fungi and are named on the basis of the fungus that produces them, thus “Aflatoxin” uses the “A” for Aspergillus and “fla” for the species “flavus” along with the word toxin.
* Adverse impact on animal and human health with acute toxicological effects such as liver damage and cancer can occur.
* The major types of aflatoxins are B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1, with aflatoxin B1 being the most toxic, and usually predominant. Aflatoxin B1 is a very potent carcinogen to humans and animals.
* Aflatoxins can invade the food supply at anytime during production, processing, transport or storage.
* Conditions that contribute to fungal growth and the production of aflatoxins are: a hot and humid climate, kernel moisture, favorable substrate characteristics, and factors that decrease the host plant’s immunity 
(insect damage, poor fertilization, and drought).
* Food and food crops most prone to contamination are corn and corn products, cottonseed, peanuts and peanut products, tree nuts (pistachio nuts, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts) and milk.
Aflatoxicosis and health effects:
Aflatoxicosis is a condition that results from ingestion of aflatoxin-contaminated food or feed. It is primarily a hepatic disease affecting animals and humans.In animals the condition occurs worldwide. The condition can be found on animals worldwide. The health impact is usually only seen in third world countries, and there have not been any cases of aflatoxicosis reported in the United States.
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 Tainted Food May Have Killed Police Dog - 1/13/06  KY
It has already killed more than 100 dogs across the country, and now it appears that a batch of contaminated dog food has claimed the life of a Montgomery County police dog.  Montgomery County Sheriff Fred Shortridge says his office's K-9, Kazan, died Wednesday. And while he waits for test results, Shortridge says he thinks the dog may be the latest victim of food made by Diamond Pet Foods that was contaminated with a corn fungus. "That's all we fed our dog," said Shortridge. "I'm not saying that this is what caused Kazan's death. I don't know. But it's odd that we got a healthy dog, and all of a sudden, in a two or three week timeframe, that he's dead." Kazan's body has been sent to the University of Kentucky for an necropsy.  Shortridge says the crime-fighting pooch will be missed. "He is a police officer, and you get attached to him," he said. Shortridge says he bought the Belgian Malinois a little more than a year ago with the help of donations from the community. The sheriff's office even received a grant recently to buy Kazan a bullet-proof vest.  Shortridge says Kazan served as a tracking and narcotics dog for his department, but also helped other neighboring counties and towns.    submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA