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Died – 3/14/23
Handler – Gregory Saunders II
Greensburg bloodhound team loses 9-year-old canine to cancer
The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department bloodhound team saw its ranks dwindle to five dogs Tuesday with the death of 9-year-old Sadie. Sadie was pulled from field duties nearly a year ago, when she became lame, and then she developed an aggressive form of cancer that spread, according to Lou Battistella, captain of the bloodhound team. “She was very efficient at trailing,” Battistella said. “She was a good dog. She always went to her annual training in Maryland. ”In addition to tracking the scent of a missing person or a wanted criminal, the team’s dogs are beloved pets of their respective handlers. “We treat them as pets,” Battistella said. “They’re a member of the family. They’re not in a kennel; they live in the house. “We find that it helps with their socialization and makes them all-around better dogs. ”Sadie was the first bloodhound partner for handler Gregory Saunders II, a Hempfield firefighter who has been a reserve member of the Greensburg Fire Department through his involvement with the bloodhound team. Saunders was one of the team’s handlers who also was deputized through the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office. A large dog breed, bloodhounds are susceptible to a variety of illnesses and diseases, including cancer, Battistella said. Sadie will be buried at the Pet Haven cemetery in Hempfield. She joins more than 20 previous canine team members who reached their “end of watch” with the Greensburg bloodhound program since its formation in 1969.Last year, Saunders’ father and fellow handler, Gregory Sr., suffered the loss of Eddie, named for the late J. Edward Hutchinson, team founder and former Greensburg fire chief.Losses in 2021 included sisters Fancy and Sophy, handled respectively by Doug Fordyce and by Battistella’s daughter, Elysia.Fordyce and Elysia Battistella now are paired with the team’s youngest bloodhounds — Rocky and Pita, respectively, who are approaching their second birthdays.“We buy puppies at 8 to 10 weeks old and begin training and socialization,” Lou Battistella said. “We get them acclimated and then begin puppy trails with them. ”When they reach 10 months old, the dogs can be certified through the National Police Bloodhound Association. The Greensburg team belongs to the group, and Lou Battistella is affiliated with it as an instructor. For its response to incidents through the years, including providing assistance to the Sheriff’s Office, the Greensburg bloodhound team was among recipients of the inaugural Hero Awards bestowed last month by the local Pennsylvania Chapter 1 of the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club. Noting the investment of time required to train and handle a certified bloodhound, Lou Battistella indicated there are no immediate plans to bring a young dog on board to succeed Sadie. “We’re just going to let things settle out for a while, concentrate on the dogs we have and make this team the best we can be,” he said.
