K9 Bo – Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp Police dog Bo dies unexpectedly

Bo, a drug dog for Antwerp Police, died unexpectedly last week at the age of nine. The cause of her sudden death is unknown. “The drug dogs are of inestimable value in the fight against drug trafficking and the nuisance that comes with it,” said Mayor Bart de Wever. “Bo has a strong share in the amounts of narcotics discovered by the police in our city. I am saddened by Bo’s passing and wish to express my condolences to her dog handler. Bo deserves every respect for the commitment she made to and in our city.” Bo conducted just under 100 searches in 2020 alone and participated in around 60 planned actions. She also searched around 50 vehicles a year. In 2016, the Mayor decorated Bo and her brother Racko both in the city hall, in honor of their achievements. “The whole force sympathizes with the entire dog team and with her handler in particular,” reads a statement from Antwerp police. “Everyone is grateful to Bo for her hard work in the fight against drug crime.” Bo was one of the four drug dogs in the dog team of Police Zone Antwerp, along with Racko, Dio and Jeppe. Antwerp police had already started working on the succession of Bo and Racko this year, as both dogs reached their retirement age. At the end of September 2020, they hired Dio, and Jeppe will have completed his intensive training in autumn of 2021.

 

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.