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Handler: Officer Brian Harbart
Somerset Borough Police Dept.
340 West Union St.
Somerset, PA 15501
WEBSITE – http://www.somersetborough.com/police/
Somerset Borough police K-9 dies
Black bands adorn the Somerset Borough police officers badges as the officers mourn one of their own. Arny, the department’s
K-9 unit, died Monday evening with handler Brian Harbart and his family by his side at Animal Medical Center in Somerset.
Arny was diagnosed with Hemangioscarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer, earlier this year. Police chief Randy Cox said
officers held a vigil outside Animal Medical Center Monday evening as Arny peacefully died. Cox said the community and
police agencies across the nation have been supportive of the department since Arny’s cancer was discovered. Cox said that the community considers Arny their dog. “There is a certain level of appreciate in the county for the role he played and what
he did,” he said. Arny was born in December 2004 and began his career in 2006
On behalf of the community the Somerset Borough Police Department wishes to thank the Harbart family for the care, love
and loyalty shown to Arny throughout his life and career, but especially for the faithful devotion to him in his end days.
On behalf of the Harbart family and the department we wish to thank the community and all those others for their
kindnesses and expressions of support and compassion during these last few months of Arny’s life. There are so many who
through their words and gestures have clearly established that Arny was “Somerset’s Dog” and words cannot express our
gratitude and appreciation.
We especially wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Vince Svonavec and the veterinarians and staff of Animal Medical Center
for their excellent care of Arny and especially for their compassionate attention to him since his diagnosis. That to which
I alluded to in an earlier letter has now come to be: our department has experienced the loss of one we have always
considered an officer; our community has lost one who has without a doubt had become the most popular and appreciated
member of the Somerset Borough Police Department, one who has contributed as greatly to the department’s mission of
protection and service as any other who has worn a badge; the Harbarts have lost a family member, who beyond his great accomplishments as a police K9 gave them comfort, security and loyalty; undoubtedly experiencing the greatest loss is
Officer Harbart who is not only experiencing the losses already mentioned, but has also lost his partner. At some
appropriate time in the near future, Arny’s family, fellow officers and the community will have an opportunity to celebrate
his life and contributions to this community.
