K9 Treo – MWD

Died – Oct 2015`
Handler – Sgt. Dave Heyhoe

A war veteran mourning the loss of the dog who stood by his side while he was deployed in Afghanistan commemorated his partner with a tattoo which incorporated the dog’s ashes. “I will lay down my life for you and expect nothing but love in return,” says the tattoo, under the name “Treo” and a paw print. “I protect my Dad with my life, and would gladly take a bullet in his place.” Treo, a Labrador retriever, was by Royal Army Sgt. Dave Heyhoe’s side to sniff out bombs in Afghanistan. The pair became well-known and in 2010, Treo was awarded the Dicken Medal for Gallantry – the most prestigious award granted to animals in the United Kingdom. According to Great Britain’s People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity that awards the Dicken Medal, Treo managed to sniff out an improvised explosive device while working as forward protection for the Royal Irish Regiment.
“It was subsequently confirmed that the device uncovered was new to the area and would have inflicted significant casualties,” according to PDSA. Treo was also recognized for saving dozens of other service members with his bomb-sniffing abilities. “Without doubt, Treo’s actions and devotion to his duties, while in the throes of conflict, saved many lives,” PDSA said. Treo left the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in 2009 to live with Heyhoe, who was also retiring. Treo died in October 2015 at the age of 14. “People might think it’s strange, but Treo was like a son to me,” Heyhoe told the Daily Mail. “Over the years we have seen gunfire, death and bomb scares together — I’ve been lost without him. Now it feels like Treo is by my side — where he’s supposed to be.” A tattoo artist agreed to sprinkle Treo’s ashes into the ink used to commemorate the dog. “I couldn’t be happier with it,” Heyhoe told the Daily Mail. “I felt a sense of peace after I had it done — I could feel him there by my side where he’d always been.”

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.