K9 Dega – Round Rock, Texas

Round Rock police, Pet Loss Center to honor fallen canine officer Dega

The Round Rock Police Department and the Pet Loss Center of Austin have come together to honor Dega, a deeply loved canine officer who served the City of Round Rock for nine years. Dega will be held a traditional police memorial, which will include an officer procession, appearances from the Round Rock Police Pipe and Drums and Round Rock Firefighters Pipes and Drums and a prayer. The memorial will take place at the Round Rock Police Department on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Dega joined the police department in 2008 and spent one year with Sgt. Eric Mount and became Officer Robert Ramos’ partner in 2009. She specialized in narcotics detection and article/area searches, assisting in the seizure of more than 200 pounds of narcotics and over $150,000. Dega was diagnosed with cancer in April 2017 after Officer Ramos noticed subtle changes in her behavior. The Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital reached out to the Pet Loss Center, a pet memorial services company that offers services free-of-charge for active service animals, to help with the ceremony. “Although Dega did not look like the typical police dog, she absolutely acted like it,” Officer Ramos said. “She had tremendous courage and heart, as well as a working spirit. Even at home, she was the ‘Boss of the Backyard.’” The police department has seven canines which are detector dogs that are trained in locating and identifying narcotics, explosives and other items. The animals undergo several months of initial training, as well as at least four hours of weekly training once activated into service. “It is important to recognize that to the department, these dogs are more than just tools or pets–they are officers and partners,” Round Rock Police Department Chief Allen Banks said in a press release. The public is invited to attend Dega’s memorial and donations are being accepted for the Round Rock Police K9 Memorial Fund. Cash or check donations can be mailed to 2701 North Mays St., Round Rock, TX 78665 and online donations can be made at rrcommunityfoundation.org.

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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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