Sadly survived by GSD, Kokso 
& trainers,  Al & Susan Gill
 Von der haus Gill German Shepherds
16863 Boundary Road
 Wapakoneta, OH 45895
algill@gillsgermanshepherds.com
 419-568-9400- residence/kennel
 419-568-9405-fax -  419-995-1823-pager

Delta has inquiry into dogs’ deaths 
Up to five died on flight to Dayton 
By Benjamin Kline    Dayton Daily News 05.07.2002
DAYTON | Delta Air Lines on Monday confirmed it is investigating what happened to a cargo of Alsatian police dogs stricken on a flight from Atlanta to Dayton. Reports are circulating that as many as seven of the animals, often called German shepherds and used in law enforcement for drug detection, were on a Delta flight last Tuesday, and five were dead when the aircraft landed at Dayton International Airport. The two surviving dogs were taken to the Dayton Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Moraine, where one died, according to sources. Delta Air Lines Manager Ronnie Wayne, at the Dayton International Airport, said Monday it was "a customer matter" and refused to provide details. But Wayne also said "an intensive investigation is being conducted to find out what happened to the dogs.” "Everybody has pets and dogs, and I do, too, and this is a very unfortunate incident," Wayne said. It was said the stricken dogs were being shipped from Germany, according to John Sears, a Dayton airport spokesman. Sears said the incident was being treated as "strictly a Delta thing. I heard they were dead, except for one who was taken to the clinic in Moraine. A police officer told me that one did not make it. We don’t know if it was a cabin pressurization problem, or what." Sharon Exline, animal cruelty investigator for the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, said she was not asked to investigate the deaths. "I know there are certain times when they will not fly animals because of hot or cold extremes in the temperature," Exline said. "But it wasn’t too cold or too hot when this happened." Exline said the humane society once shipped a monkey to Texas and had "a window of opportunity" when the carrier considered it safe. "But that was in the summer time." Exline said she heard the dogs were "very expensive." She said she also heard they were intended for drug detection work.• Contact Benjamin Kline at 225-2222 or e-mail him at benjamin_kline@coxohio.com [From the Dayton Daily News: 05.07.2002] 

  Survivor dog set to leave vet clinic 
No ruling on cause of death of others 
By Margo Rutledge Kissell - Dayton Daily News 05.08.2002
A German shepherd that survived a flight from Atlanta to Dayton last week when five other dogs died is to be released from a local veterinary hospital today. “The cause of death remains to be seen,” said Dr. Sven Anstadt, a veterinarian at the Anstadt Animal Hospital near Tipp City, where the surviving male dog, Koxo, has undergone treatment for dehydration and is doing well. Pathologists at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine have examined the five dead German shepherds and expect results back in about five weeks, a spokeswoman there said Tuesday. Delta Air Line employees contacted the animal hospital about 1 a.m. Saturday “in a bit of a panic” because, at that time, they believed all six of the dogs arrived dead at Dayton International Airport, Anstadt said. The dogs, which were imported from Frankfurt, Germany, were in separate carriers in the cargo hold of a Delta passenger flight from Atlanta, he said. They had received various levels of training in protection and some were trained in detection of narcotics and explosives, he said. Hospital personnel began making arrangements for the examinations at Ohio State, Anstadt said, because the Delta employees described the dogs as being in a state of rigor mortis, muscular stiffening after death. But a couple of hours later, he said, the businessman who owns the dogs called the animal hospital and reported that two of the dogs were alive. He rushed them to the hospital, where aggressive treatment was started on both. One dog that was being treated for dehydration and hyperthermia (high body temperature) died minutes after arriving, Anstadt said. He would not identify the Ohio business owner, but said he is from outside the area. Kristi Tucker, spokeswoman for Delta Air Lines' corporate office in Atlanta, would not release details, calling it a “customer matter.” “While we regret this unfortunate incident, we are currently conducting a thorough investigation,” she said. Anstadt said Delta representatives and the dogs’ owner told him that night the flight had been delayed in Atlanta. Tucker would not confirm that. Veterans Affairs Medical Center police Lt. Lynn Moore, a dog handler who is a member of the North American Police Work Dog Association, said a trained dog can fetch from $2,000 to $20,000, based on its level of training.[From the Dayton Daily News: 05.08.2002] 

Contact Joanne Huist Smith at 225-2362 or joanne_smith@coxohio.com

Cards mailed out 9/5/02

Police grieve loss of canine
By Ian Berry
Anderson Independent-Mail - 5/20/2002
By the time Anderson Police Sgt. Wes Barnes got around to asking the question Sunday night, the answer was quite clear. 
“He was just a dog, so what’s the big deal?’’ Sgt. Barnes asked.
The big deal, for Sgt. Barnes and a group of about 40 people who turned out at a memorial for Sgt. Barnes dog, “Chuck,’’ was a life devoted to snuffing out crime and protecting local 
residents. Chuck, 7, died suddenly May 8 after six years with Sgt. Barnes and his family. In the process, Sgt. Barnes said, the Belgian Malinois taught him about trust, being himself, and caring for children. Chuck even was there for him in his “darkest hours of alcoholism and addiction.’’ Local law enforcement officers brought their own canines to the service, held at Chris Taylor Park, and shared a hug with Sgt. Barnes. In the back of their minds was a simple, yet loaded, question: what happens to dogs when they die? “I can’t believe God would take them to a place where we couldn’t be with them,’’ said Kurt Stutler, pastor of Toxaway United Methodist Church. Sgt. Barnes said Chuck, who had slowed down a little but still seemed very healthy, passed away in his favorite cool spot. He said it was still unclear why he died, although no foul play is assumed. 
Mr. Stutler led the ceremony, which included Bible passages, religious songs and a blessing for “the beasts and the children.’’ With several police dogs sitting patiently next to their handlers, Mr. Sutler explained that the dogs demonstrate selfless service, courage, forgiveness and other exceptional qualities. “Of all the species God has created, we as humans seem to have the most trouble with trust, while our canine friends seem to do it the best,’’ Mr. Stutler said. Sgt. Barnes said Chuck also would “protect a child over me without hesitation.’’ He learned this lesson when he went to spank his son one day and Chuck nipped him in the rear. Chuck’s passing is something Mauldin police officer Chris McCord knows he’ll have to face someday, even if he doesn’t like to think about it. He brought “Billy,’’ a black lab he’s had for four years, to the service. “They become your children, your best friend,’’ Mr. McCord said. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through.’’ Sgt. Barnes said Chuck’s last duty was to find a gun that was used to shoot a 14-year-old boy. He did this in no time, Sgt. Barnes said. “I’ve never known a kinder soul than a red, black and tan dog named Chuck,’’ Sgt. Barnes said. Sgt. Barnes said he plans to spread Chuck’s ashes in the mountains of North Carolina.
Anderson Independent-Mail
PO Box 2507, Anderson, SC 29622  (800) 859-6397
cards mailed priorty 5/21/02 
6/23/02 Wes  really appreciated the memorial & the cards for Chuck!!
  He has a new Malinois, but this one is just for the family - he says she isn't going to work.  No news on whether he is getting another working dog yet. 

<------email, click on Officer's name
 

cards  sent 5/16/02 and received 5/18/02
Thanks for the email, what a beautiful GSD!
Bob & I truly appreciate hearing from you both.