K9 Andor – Plain, Ohio

Died 6/18/23
Handler – Officer Josh Hirtzinger

Plain City police K9 dies after being diagnosed with lymphoma

The Plain City Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its K9s. Andor, the 7-year-old German Shepard who joined the police department more than five years ago, passed away on Sunday after a short battle with cancer, Chief Dale McKee announced. On June 6, Andor and his handler, Officer Josh Hirtzinger, were doing routine training when the officer noticed a change in the K9’s behavior. Andor was taken to the Plain City Animal Hospital where the veterinarian diagnosed him with an aggressive form of lymphoma. At the time of the diagnosis, the veterinarian gave Andor no more than three months to live and encouraged the police department to allow the K9 to work active duty to the extent of what he was physically capable of doing. “After receiving this devastating news, the Division of Police Command Staff met with Officer Hirtzinger and it was unanimously decided that Andor would continue to work in whatever capacity he was able to. We expected to have a few more months to digest and process this news and to determine end of life plans,” McKee said. Andor ultimately passed away near the end of his working shift on Sunday. The K9 joined the Plain City Police Department in March 2018.The police department says Andor was beloved by officers and the community. He was responsible for many searches, criminal apprehensions, drug alerts and arrests and helped make the community a safer place. The police department is planning the arrangement for Andor’s funeral. Details will be announced in the coming days.

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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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