K9 Butch – South Africa

Metro Police Department
South Africa

Butch the retired metro police dog put down

Butch, the retired police dog at the center of a row over whether he could spend his twilight years with his handler, has been put down. “He was taken by the SPCA and euthanized,” said DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard who was lobbying for him to be allowed to be homed with his handler. “They said he was vicious,” said Kohler Barnard, adding that his heart-broken handler at the Isipingo Metro unit did not think this of his trusty hound. Butch’s plight came to light when Barnard, two SPCA inspectors and an SPCA-linked veterinarian, visited two Metro Police kennels after reports by News24 that the Dog Unit
was short of puppy food and shampoo, and veterinary bills were piling up. A donation to the City’s Dog Unit last week of food, medical supplies and toys for the dogs was apparently turned away,
causing outrage. A spokesperson for Ethekwini Metro Police was not available to comment, but concern was raised over this, and the fate of the older police dogs who had spent their lives in service. Kohler Barnard said at the time that Butch’s handler had been refused permission to take him home. “I found myself wondering if ratepayers who pay for the existence of this unit, know of this directive. That unlike the SAPS units… the Metro units refuse to allow handlers to take the dog home to live out its retirement after it has fought crime day and night for a decade.”

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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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