K9 Conan, Macon County, North Carolina

Died – 4/7/17
Handler – Officer Craig Stahl

Macon County K-9 officer dies after cancer diagnosis

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office said goodbye to one of their K-9 officers on Tuesday. Officer Conan, a Belgium Malinois, was put down after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was 9 years old. “Part of me left today as I watched Conan pass in our loving arms, but Conan gave his all to me, and even though he’s gone now he will definitely not be forgotten,” Craig Stahl, Conan’s handler, said. According to a release from the county, he was certified in narcotics work in the fall of 2008 and started working with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office in fall of 2012. Craig said Conan was known for this “antenna tail and huge pointy ears” as a puppy. Craig’s wife, Racheal, said he was “awesome enough to attack a grown man and gentle enough to turn loose in an elementary classroom.” Officer Conan’s family said he always brought smiles to everyone’s face and was protective of his family. Conan was greeted by members of local fire departments, EMS and law enforcement as he made his last walk into the vet’s office. The county said his entire K-9 family, the narcotics division of the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Holland and Conan’s “at home family” were at his side as he passed away. “He will always hold a special place in everyone’s heart that knew him. He was and always will be ‘Daddy’s best big buddy,'” Craig added in a statement.

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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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