K9 Bruno – Keizer, Oregon

Died – 10/11/17
Handler – Officer Scott Keniston

Keizer PD K9 Bruno, 5, dies from bacterial infection

Bruno, a 5-year old K9 with Keizer’s Police Department, died on Wednesday from a severe bacterial infection, the department announced. Bruno had been working with officer Scott Keniston since June 2014. Bruno was a tracking and apprehension K9, but he also gave several education presentations to kids a year. Originally, Keniston took Bruno to a veterinarian on Tuesday for an infected, abscessed tooth. Bruno had exhibited other symptoms, though, so the veterinarian decided to take a look at Bruno’s chest. Images showed bumps in the chest and near the lungs. Keniston immediately took Bruno to the Dove Lewis Animal Hospital in Portland. There, they discovered Bruno had a bacterial infection. He died less than 24 hours later. Keizer Police said in the next couple of months they’ll start the process of purchasing a new K9.

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.