K9 Ruby – New Hampshire Fish & Game

Handler – Lt. Bill Boudreau

New Hampshire Fish & Game Says ‘Goodbye’ To Beloved K-9 ‘Ruby’

The New Hampshire Fish & Game Department is morning the loss of a beloved K-9, “Ruby.” Ruby, along with her partner, Lt. Bill Boudreau, of the department’s law enforcement division, served the southwest part of the Granite State, and worked together for more than seven years. During the past few months though, Ruby had been sick. She saw many veterinary experts and underwent numerous tests and medical treatments in an effort to cure her of her ongoing issues with losing proteins, weight, and muscle mass, according to the department. Unfortunately, “in spite of all the heroic efforts and medical treatments from our experts, Ruby’s condition continued to worsen.” Although she fought, she was also suffering, according to officials, and the difficult decision was made to put her to sleep. “Ruby made several recoveries for us during challenging search and rescue missions and I am not sure those victims would have been located in time without her assistance,” said Col. Kevin Jordan, the chief of law enforcement at NH Fish and Game. “While we will dearly miss this team’s skills and abilities, it is little Ruby’s personality and energy level we will miss the most here at Fish and Game, she was loved by all who met her.” Together, Boudreau and Ruby assisted state and municipal police, including major crimes, they were certified in fish and wildlife detection, human tracking, and evidence and article detection. They trained weekly, according to officials. Officials thanked the doctors and staff at the Capital Area Veterinary Emergency Services (CAVES) located in Concord, and the Tenny, Fritz and Combs Animal Hospital located in Peterborough “for their expertise, generosity, and compassion with Ruby and our law enforcement conservation officers and staff over these past difficult months.” Condolences may be sent to: Lt. Boudreau and K-9 Ruby, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Law Enforcement Division, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301, and donations in memory of K-9 Ruby may be sent to: K-9 Ruby Memorial Fund, Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire, P.O. Box 3993, Concord, NH 03302.

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.