K9 Tango – Bono, Arkansas

Handler – Officer Jeff McGinnis

K9 Officer euthanized following medical diagnosis

Bono Police Department’s K9 Tango died from euthanasia following the diagnosis of many medical problems causing “a lot of pain.” Chief of Police Michael Parrish says Tango had a failing heart, kidneys, and spine issues. That’s when Chief Parrish, Tango’s handler Officer Jeff McGinnis, and doctors came to the conclusion of euthanizing the K9. Officer McGinnis did everything with Tango; drug arrests, training, and taking care of him at home. “He goes everywhere with him just about,” Chief Parrish said. “He’s with him all the time, take care of him at home and on the job also. It’s a family member to him.” Tango joined BPD eight years ago after being purchased for $9,000. He replaced a former K9 who was injured on the job. The K9′s 2-3 checkups a year did not show any of these conditions. However, last week, Tango began showing respiratory issues. “He took Tango to the vet, approximately 2 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “They met him at the Animal Clinic and discovered that he had pneumonia.” This first issue led to many. Animal Medical Clinic sent Chief Parrish this statement in a letter: “He presented July 19, 2020, for inappetence, lethargy, and increased respiratory effort. Laboratory results reveal he suffers from renal (kidney) failure. Full body radiographs reveal he suffers from pneumonia (suspect fungal origin) as well as spondylosis in his lumbar spine. His current pneumonia has pushed him into congestive heart failure (his heart has poor contractility), and thus, he is at great risk of immediate death.” Chief Parrish said Tango’s condition was critical. Doctors said he could have simply died from getting out of the car. That’s when they agreed on Tango’s fate. “Due to him being in so much pain, the doctors were saying he had to be in a lot of pain and we didn’t want him to suffer,” he said. “He’s done a great deed for the city and we did not want to see him suffer.” Chief Parrish said the police department will not replace K9 Tango at this time. He said Tango did a good job for the Bono Police Department.

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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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