K9 Fionn – Kempton Park, South Africa

Died 3/17/16
Handler – Megan

Fallen police narcotics dog poisoned

The death of narcotics detection dog, Fionn, poisoned while searching for drugs in Kempton Park on Thursday night, has left his handlers shaken and in mourning. “He was a soldier and we have lost a team mate. It has been very hard,” said K9 Law Enforcement spokesperson Chelsea Mercado. Fionn, a four-year-old Dutch Shepherd, died after he had been frantically rushed to a vet. “He and his handler Megan went into a hair salon and he indicated on a cupboard. He went in and grabbed a bottle which had a liquid in it,” she said. “He dropped the bottle and shook his head, and then within about four minutes he started having seizures. We rushed him to the vet, but by the time we got him there it was too late,” Mercado said. “They tried everything they could, but he was gone. He was a bouncy and happy dog and he worked his heart out and he lived for what he did. He had so many successes behind him,” she said. She said that working dogs were a valued resource. “These dogs love what they do and they love being put to work. We know that much like law enforcement officials, they work in dangerous places and that there is no guarantee that they will come home. It has been very hard, but he did so much good in his short life,” Mercado added.

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.