Memorials to Fallen K-9s
2001 page 4 Gone but never will be forgotten F.A.S.T. Co. donates cards to all partners of all working dogs/horses sent by priority mail |
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K-9 "IZZY" 1990 - April 11, 2001 
Partner: Det. Ed Stewart Stowe VT Police Dept. 
Lamoille County Sheriff's Department Hyde Park, VT
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Izzy came into Stewart's life after he, through the Stowe Hazardous Terrain team, had come into contact with the New England Canine rescue group on some search and rescue operations. "I was so impressed with what they did, and their dogs did, that I wanted to join," he said. "Of course, first you have to have a dog." Ben was Stewart's first dog, and partially trained when the Fidelco Guide Dog School called to offer him Izzy. "We went down to look at him, knowing I think that if we looked, he would be coming home," he said. What Ed and wife Judy found was a slightly undersized, but frenetic black German Shepherd named Izzy. A year later Ben was given to a game warden, and Izzy, already certified to search by air scent, was well on her way to a career that would take her and Stewart all over the country, including a trip to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. "She's taken me a lot of places," Stewart said. "A lot of people who knew Izzy have no idea who I am. We were in an airport in Nashville and Dolly Parton came over and signed her rescue vest, she probably wouldn't have done that to me." Since Izzy passed away Stewart has received dozens and dozens of e-mails. "If they had heard that something had happened to Ed Stewart," he said, waiving a thick sheaf of copies of the e-mails, "they probably wouldn't have known who I was, but Izzy..." A few years ago Stewart started grooming a smallish black lab named Cinder as Izzy's replacement. "Izzy started training her about a year ago," Stewart says of the active black lab from Covered Bridge Kennels in Stowe. "When you are looking for a working dog you have to try to pick out the one that is the biggest pain in the neck, the most active, the most curious. The one that always has to be doing something." Izzy eventually was certified for air search, tracking, drug detection, searching for bodies, searching for living persons under rubble and in disaster situations, and she pursued those activities all over the country. Stewart and Izzy found numerous lost people, saved a number of lives and found incalculable amount of drugs. The team, highlighted by Izzy's calm presence, visited a number of schools and helped bridge the sometimes broad gap between the police and the community. With dogs trained to operate in dangerous situations there is always the specter of a sudden and violent death, but Izzy survived all those situations. "The last few weeks she had lost a little bit of her spark," Stewart said. "We had taken her to the vet several times, but they couldn't find anything. Wednesday we were home with her and she passed away. With a dog like this you are always sending her into dangerous situations, so you're always a little prepared." After 11 years of being together almost constantly, Izzy's absence is not easily replaced by Cinder's exuberance. "We are a team, and it's like any loss," Stewart said. "We flew maybe 70 or 80 thousand commercial miles together and many more in armed forces aircraft. We did 20 to 25 searches a year. But it was different because we were together almost 24 hours a day, there are few relationships like that." 
Det. Stewart started grooming a small black lab named, Cinder, as Izzy's replacement. "Izzy started training her about a year ago," Det. Stewart reported about the active black lab from Covered Bridge Kennels in Stowe. THANKS FOR THE PHONE CALL, hope you get the cards soon (Lulu) |
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In Loving Memory of K-9 "AXEL" April 21, 2001 
Partner: Officer Stephen Shepard Tacoma, WA Police Dept. Tacoma Police Union 901 S. I St., Suite 201 Tacoma, WA 98405 "Gone but not forgotten."
Thanks to Terri Amour for all her help in obtaining information & photo
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Tacoma police to hold service for Axel, the retired police dog Tacoma police lost a trusted friend over the weekend. Axel, the recently retired police dog, died Saturday after his vital organs began failing, a police spokeswoman said Sunday. Veterinarians decided to put the German shepherd to sleep when it became clear he wasn't making the recovery from prostate surgery they had hoped for. Earlier this month, the Tacoma police union asked the public to help pay for mounting medical bills. Axel started acting sluggish a couple of months ago and his condition began to worsen, police said. Veterinarians found a tumor in his prostate, which was later found to be benign. With death, police intend to use any remaining funds to help pay for future retired police dog medical bills. Officers were unable Sunday to say how much money had been collected. Axel was set to retire in a couple of months but was forced into early retirement because of the illness. In his 4 1/2 years with Tacoma police, Axel racked up 220 arrests, police said. Officers plan a memorial service for this week, though they didn't have a firm date Sunday. Donations for the retired police dog fund are still being accepted at any Key Bank branch. You also can send a check, made out to Key Bank.
TRACKING BAD GUYS IN HEAVEN Police dog, Axel, passed away April 21, after a tiring struggle to recover from surgery. Axel provided courageous and loyal service to his fellow officers and citizens of Tacoma. In addition to apprehending 220 felons, he protected and saved the boundless lives. We are blessed for having Axel with us for over four years. Officer Stephen Shepard and his family grieve his loss, as well as all those whose lives he had touched. The K-9 Unit wishes to thank the men and women of the Tacoma Police Department, who provided financial and emotional support. The Tacoma Police Union, Phoenix Central Labs, Arc Northwest, and the business and citizens who donated so generously for Axle's medical care. We will be forever grateful to the doctors and staff of the 56th South Durango Animal Emergency Hospital for their constant loving care, compassion, and expert medical treatment for our beloved Axel. |
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K-9 "HOOVER" April 25, 2001  ..
Partner: Dan Davis Salt Lake City, UT Search & Rescue 1632 Roosevelt Ave. Salt Lake County SAR Office Search & Rescue Team |
Over sixteen years old, Hoover had an extraordinary life and a very special human partner that made sure his last days were comfortable and full of love. Hoover was adopted as a young pup at the Humane Society of Utah by Dan Davis. Hoover was very quick to learn and Dan knew he had chosen a very special dog. They began training for search and rescue and soon Dan and Hoover were certified as a team by Salt Lake County Search and Rescue. The team also worked for Dear Valley Resort as Avalanche Rescue support. Hoover’s keen sense of smell and his intense love of humans led him to find eleven lost people. As if saving human lives wasn’t enough, Hoover’s gentle nature, rugged good looks, and intense desire to please made him a natural for the film industry and had a very successful career in film. Hoover is best known for his role in the popular "Don’t Waste Utah" campaign in the early 90's and for his starring role as "Fuzz" in the movie "Little Heroes". Hoover has appeared in many other films and has made special appearances with two of Utah’s Governors, several famous actors, and has even co-hosted a KJZZ Movie Festival. Hoover will be missed by many and remembered by anyone that was fortunate enough to meet him and see his big brown eyes and constantly wagging tail. Dan Davis asks that donations to the Humane Society of Utah be sent in memory of Hoover. The address is: ?
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