mem2001-6


Memorials to Fallen K-9s 2001 page 12 F.A.S.T. Co. donates cards to all partners of all working dogs/horses as long as their is an address.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 "ARNO"
August 16, 2001

Partner/Handler
Cpl. Joseph Welda
Walker Police Dept. LA
PO Box 988
Walker, Louisiana 70785
225.664.3125
.

SUDDEN ILLNESS FATAL TO WALKER
POLICE DOG
By Florida parishes bureau, Louisiana

WALKER — Arno, the police dog, died Thursday of an unknown ailment after three years of active duty with the Walker Police Department.
"We’re totally devastated around this place," Police Chief Elton Burns said Friday. "He did it all — tracking, officer protection, drug searches, crowd control."
Arno, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, lived with the family of his police handler,
Cpl. Joseph "Jo Jo" Welda
The Belgian Malinois is a breed related to the Belgian sheepdog that is well-suited for police work.Burns said Welda called him Wednesday night to report that Arno was ill.
Welda took Arno to a veterinarian Thursday morning and then brought him home to recuperate.When Welda’s wife, Beverly, returned home at 3:30 p.m., she discovered Arno’s lifeless body, Burns said. Although the dog was taken to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for an autopsy, officials do not suspect poisoning, the police chief said. Burns said the Welda family members were very attached to Arno.
"Their 15-month-old baby, Olivia, was crying ‘dog, dog, dog’ on Friday," Burns said.
Arno was one of two police dogs with the 10-member Police Department. Hondo, also a Belgian Malinois, was a gift from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.
"They’re members of the force," Burns said of the dogs.
The city purchased Arno from a Kaplan trainer through a federal grant, Burns said.
The police chief said he’s already contacted town officials about buying another police dog, which may cost about $5,000.
That doesn’t include the cost of training with the assigned police trainer, Burns said.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 "BRUNO"
August 20, 2001

Partner/Handler:
Officer William Proulx
East Hartford Police Dept.
497 Tolland St.
East Hartford, CN. 06108
860-528-4401

AWARDS:
1994 Officer William Proulx & K-9 Bruno won Daniel Wasson
Memorial K-9 Award-Outstanding Achievements - K-9 Policing
1995 Officer William Proulx & K-9 Bruno won 2nd place award
1996 Officer William Proulx & K-9 Bruno won 1st place award
1997 Officer William Proulx & K-9 Bruno won 1st place award
1999 Officer William Proulx & K-9 Bruno won 1st place award
*****************************

Four-time police Canine Olympics winner euthanized
By Associated Press, 8/21/2001 17:46 - East Hartford, CN(AP) Bruno, an East Hartford police department German shepherd who assisted in more than 1,100 arrests and won the state police Canine Olympics four times, was euthanized Monday. Bruno ''went downhill really fast since retiring 10 months ago, Officer William Proulx said. Crippled by arthritis and Lyme disease, the 10-year-old dog had become progressively weaker, despite doses of steroids. By last week, Proulx said, Bruno could no longer stand without assistance. Bruno and Proulx graduated together from the state police canine training academy in May 1994, the top team of that year's class. When it came to work, Proulx said, Bruno was ''all business.'' But the dog who licked thousands of hands and faces at schools, senior centers, Scout and 4-H camps, ''had both sides,'' Proulx said. ''He was such a friendly dog, he loved to be petted,'' Proulx said. Proulx said the dog saved his life several times, once spotting a man in the bushes who was aiming a gun at the officer.

1999 at the Connecticut K-9 Olympics.
Officer Proulx & Bruno

photo taken by James A. Cortina .

State Champion town police dog Bruno put to sleep
By: Linda Medura, Gazette correspondent August 23, 2001

The town's most celebrated police dog, Bruno, afflicted with crippling spinal arthritis, had been ailing for some time. On Monday morning Officer Bill Proulx drove to a veterinary hospital in town where arrangements had been made for Bruno to be put to sleep. But before stopping at the vets Officer Proulx, accompanied by his children Ryan, 10, and Nicole, 7, took his retired K-9 partner around East Hartford in his police cruiser for one last patrol. In the past two weeks his condition had deteriorated to where he could not stand without assistance and Proulx, after much soul searching, decided it was time to end his partner's suffering.The dog was 9 1/2 years old.
"You reach a point when you realize they are staying alive because of you and that's when you have to do the right thing - not for you, but for them," he said in a voice breaking with emotion. In the world of K-9's there are the good and the very good. Bruno was incredibly very, very, very good! A 4 time, First Place winner in the CT. K-9 Olympics, he has had two books written about him: Dogs With Jobs and Everyday Heroes and was recently featured in the June 2000 issue of Readers Digest. In January on CPTV, he starred in the television series Dogs With Jobs which has been seen by audiences around the world.On the job his record of service was equally impressive. Despite being shot at, battered, punched and injured in the 6 years he was on the force, Bruno, at the time of his retirement, has been credited with 1100 arrests, half of which were felonies, the recovery of 9 lost children and 3 Alzheimer's patients and numerous demonstrations. With his aggressive bark and sharp bite that targeted legs and buttocks, he was a criminal's worst nightmare. In fact, many in that particular line of work felt you were no one unless you'd been bitten at least once by Bruno. In 1995 - the only year he placed 2nd in the K-9 Olympics - he was the only police dog selected by a panel of judges from the Connecticut Chief of Police Association to receive the Daniel Wasson award for disarming a gunman at a local motel and saving Proulx's life. A member of the 56 K-9 Training Troop, he graduated first in his class from the Connecticut State Police Academy in May, 1994.
Friendly and spirited off the job, he possessed a dignity and presence that seemed to embody all that was best in his kind. He enjoyed his work, put his whole being into it, and in the process brought recognition and fame not only to the EHPD and Proulx, but to our community. Because he was one of the few K-9's whose career was regularly documented by The East Hartford Gazette, residents - especially children and seniors - were treated to a personal, inside look at what life on the streets is like for policemen and their K-9 partners. And they responded accordingly with adoration, lots of affectionate pets and friendly greetings and, at holidays, gifts of homemade cookies.
But Bruno won the hearts and earned respect of any in and outside of East Hartford, not because of headlines but because he definitely was that rare and genuine bright and shining star. He will be missed by many. Donations honoring Bruno can be sent to the East Hartford Police Department, 497 Tolland Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 Attention Police Canine Retirement Fund. Monies will be used to help cover veterinary costs for retired canines.

In Loving Memory of
K9 "Arkon"
August 25, 2001

...

Partner: Officer Steve Endrie
Fond du Lac Police Dept.
180 S. Macy St.
St. Fond du Lac, WI 54935

Officer Steve Endries and Ronny

In October of 2001, K9 Officer Steven Endries was teamed up with a new K9 named Aron (AKA Ronny). K9 Ronny is an 18 month old German Shepherd imported from Germany. K9 Ronny is a dual purpose K9 certified in detecting narcotics and patrol work. The patrol work ranges in skills such as tracking, area searches, article searches, building searches, criminal apprehension and handler protection.
K9 Ronny already has to his credit a felony arrest for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. A total amount of 21 rocks of crack cocaine were found inside a vehicle while parked at the Taycheedah Correctional Institute. Over $1,500 in cash was also confiscated along with a 1990 Chevy Lumina that was used to transport the drugs from the Milwaukee area to Fond du Lac.

K9 Ronny's food is donated by Larry Filo of Steinig Tal Kennels. K9 Ronny receives 40 lbs of National brand dog food each month. Dr. Thompson from Country Hills Vet Clinic has volunteered his veterinarian services to the Fond du Lac Police Department for K9 Ronny.
K9 Ronny was purchased for the Fond du Lac Police Department by the Evening Kiwanis Club of Fond du Lac. They have made Ronny an honorary member in their organization.

200 people attend service for police dog
Associated Press
FOND DU LAC, Wis. -- About 200 people attended a memorial service for a police dog that died from cardiac arrest.
They included about 60 law enforcement officers, representing jurisdictions such as Winnebago County, Fond du Lac County, Oshkosh, Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Ripon, Wisconsin Dells and Racine. Arkon, one of five dogs serving with the Fond du Lac Police Department, died Saturday. Twenty to 30 police dogs from other K-9 units came with their handlers, most of whom know Arkon's handler -- Officer Steve Endries -- from training workshops. Endries said during the ceremony Wednesday at Rienzi Cemetery's pet burial grounds that Arkon had been "a loyal partner and best friend" to him for nearly six years. Mount Horeb Police Officer Blaine Hall said that part of the loss that is hard to deal with is the bond of trust built up between a police dog and officer. "You learn to trust the dog with your life," Hall said, adding that more than once on duty, his own police dog, Sierra, "made people change their minds" about getting violent with him. Winnebago County Sheriff's Department Officer Greg Weitz said many people don't appreciate police dogs as much as they should.
"The dogs are a lot more valuable to a police department than people realize, and it's nice to see people give them some recognition," he said.

In May of 1996 K-9 Arkon along with handler Officer Steve Endries joined the unit. Then in November of 1997 the City Council continued to show their support of the K-9 program by funding 2 additional dogs bringing the units current level to four dogs. Yalco and his partner Tina Braun joined the unit in May of 1998. K-9 Manto and handler Officer Bill Ledger completed the four team unit in September of 1998.
All four K-9s are dual purpose patrol & narcotics detection dogs. The K-9s are also trained and certified as reasonable force (find & bark) dogs.

Officer Steve Endries and K9 Arkon have ben partners on the Fond du Lac Police Department since May of 1996. Arkon is a dual purpose five year old male German Shepherd imported from Germany. This K9 team work along with the officers on patrol and on emergency on-call type basis. Arkon is trained to protect his handler and other officers who are nearby when needed. Arkon is extremely useful when searching buildings, fields, parks, etc... for fleeing or hiding suspects who may be armed. Arkon can be used to track the direction of travel of a fleeing suspect through terrains where Arkon can use his nose to locate the suspect. Upon finding the suspect, Arkon will bark to advise officers of the find.

AWARDS:
DPO -1 Title - September 1998
Arkon successfully completed passing scores in tracking, obedience and officer protection phases. Arkon and Officer Endries were nominated for the Outstanding Apprehension Award by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Association in October of 1998

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