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Died – 5/15/29
Handler – Sgt. Chris Alberini
Retired police dog Dax has died at the age of 11 years
“It was very emotional,” said Chief Vincent Alfano about retired police dog Dax’s final ride with his handler Sgt. Chris Alberini on Friday. “It’s like losing a child – they’re part of the family. When the final radio call was made, there wasn’t a dry eye anywhere.” After retiring in February from his 11-year career at the Ashland Police Department, retired police dog Dax has died. He was 13 years old. “He took a downward turn over this past week,” said Chief Vincent Anfano on Saturday. Dax died of old age, said Alfano. His condition worsened over the last week and he was having more trouble walking. His handler, Sgt. Chris Alberini, made the difficult decision to put him down to end his suffering, said Alfano. “Dax is a town hero – he’s always been a shining star for the town and police department,” he said. Ashland police announced Dax’s death on Friday on their official Facebook page, followed by a video of a full police escort held in honor of Dax before he died as he took his final ride past the police station that afternoon. About 30 police departments and K-9 units throughout the state participated in the ceremony that was planned in less than a day, said Alfano. “It seemed like cruisers just kept on coming,” he said describing the constant flow of flashing police cars patrolling through the town, several cheering outside their homes along with the howls of dogs. Because there were so many participants, police staged two routes for the ceremony. With his ears perked and tongue out, Dax sat in one of those police cruisers that afternoon with his handler, who had been his partner since 2009 before Dax retired in February. “It was very emotional,” said Alfano, about Alberini’s last ride with Dax. “It’s like losing a child – they’re part of the family. When the final radio call was made, there wasn’t a dry eye anywhere.” At around 3 p.m. on Friday, Dax died at the Ashland Animal Hospital with Alberini by his side. “Dax was a police officer like all of us,” said Alfano. “He was always there when the department needed him.” Throughout Dax’s 11-year career with the department, he’s had 16 “violent apprehensions,” which means he bit a suspect during an arrest, and found more than 50 missing people during his career, said Alberini in a Daily News story from February. He also worked much longer than the typical police K-9, serving about five years more than what’s considered average, said Alfano. “Regal – I think that’s the best word to describe him,” he said. “He was so regal when he was standing there looking at you – nobody messed with him.” Every time a call was made for Alberini and Dax’s assistance, a wave of relief was felt by officers once they saw Dax gallop onto the scene, as it meant Dax could investigate a dangerous situation first before officers went in, said Alfano. “That dog saved officers’ lives,” he said, including his handler’s. On July 2, 2013, Dax saved his handler from being shot by a man hiding in an attic with a loaded shotgun. Before Alberini found the suspect, Dax had sniffed him out and latched onto his ankle, giving Alberini time to shoot the suspect, who had pointed his gun at him. In 2014, Dax became the first canine to be awarded the George L. Hanna Memorial Award for Bravery after that incident, and in 2015 he won the American Humane Hero Dog award under the law enforcement category. He’s also been featured in the 2016 Vest-a-Dog calendar, which showcases police dogs from departments across Massachusetts. Alfano said a K-9 and their handler operate as a team, and that the training required to be a handler is very intensive and physically-demanding. “They both have to be top notch, and in that fact, Ashland was very lucky,” he said. “Our new dog sure has big shoes to fill.”The department’s new dog – Ajax – is a German shepherd from Slovakia, just like Dax. Alfano thanked the fire department for its assistance in the ceremony and for erecting an American flag high up on a fire truck ladder to honor Dax, and for the Department of Public Works’ speedy assistance in placing traffic cones and barrels on the roads last minute to help with Dax’s send-off. “There’s this saying that goes something like, ‘The definition of Heaven is a place where every dog you’ve ever owned meets you at the pearly gates,’” said Alfano. “The same goes for police dogs.”
