K9 Pedro – Broward, Florida

Died – 5/14/17
Handler – Sgt. Ian Sklar

Broward Sheriff’s Office K-9 mistaken for coyote and fatally shot

Pedro the police dog met an untimely off-duty death when he was mistaken for a coyote, shot and killed. Pedro lived with Broward sheriff’s Sgt. Ian Sklar in Parkland. The dog got out of Sklar’s fenced-in yard while running after an animal, according to sheriff’s officials. When Pedro startled neighbor Frank Degati shortly before 11 p.m. on May 14, Degati yelled out. “The dog jumped onto Frank with its front paws,” an investigation report said. “Frank was pushed back and began to yell for help.” Frank Degati’s son, John, grabbed his Sig Sauer 9-mm gun and fired 10 rounds at what he thought was a coyote, the report said. Pedro, who was 4-years-old, died at the scene. He and Sklar had worked together for about two years, according to the sheriff’s office. “John stated he felt bad that he shot the dog,” the report said. The weapon was legally owned. No public services were planned for Pedro’s burial.

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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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