K9 Thor – La Crosse, Wisconsin

Died 7/4/23
Handler – Officer Dakota Jelinski

La Crosse police dog Thor dies unexpectedly

One of the La Crosse Police Department’s K-9 units has died unexpectedly.The department announced Friday that Thor died July 4 after complications from internal bleeding. The dog partnered with La Crosse police officer Dakota Jelinski According to a department press release, Thor wasn’t feeling well last week and was taken for a veterinary visit. Thor was diagnosed with a mass in his stomach, which was believed to be internal bleeding. Thor, accompanied by Jelinski, was transported to University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary Clinic, where he had a mass removed from his spleen. The surgery was described as a success, but the dog’s recovery lagged, and it died with Jelinski by its side. “We extend a thank you to Thompson’s Animal Clinic who was instrumental in providing care throughout his service and in the final days,” the press release states. “We also extend a thank you to UW-Madison Vet Clinic for their immediate care and support they gave to K9 Thor.” Thor was a German shepherd who was born Nov. 15, 2015, in the Czech Republic. After 12 weeks of training, Thor joined Jelinski on patrol in December 2018. Thor had over 500 deployments during his career. The death of Thor leaves the department with four K-9s — three German shepherds and one labrador — that perform traditional police work. The department also has labradoodle that functions as a therapy dog.

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Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.
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