K9 Kuga- Warwickshire, England

Warwickshire Police dog PD Kuga dies after injuring paw while saving life

A police dog who helped save the life of a severely injured missing person has died from injuries sustained during the rescue.Police Dog (PD) Kuga died last week after suffering a paw injury in December 2024 while locating a high-risk, vulnerable missing person who was “severely injured and losing blood.”“Though he found the missing person in time, he injured his paw, and that led to the discovery of a condition that caused him severe, chronic pain,” said Warwickshire Police in a statement.“After months of trying every treatment possible, on veterinary advice, the heartbreaking decision was taken to let PD Kuga rest. He went to sleep peacefully with his handler Lucy and previous handler Mark at his side.”Paying tribute, handler Lucy described Kuga as “a force to be reckoned with.” “Formidable and headstrong, he knew what he liked and if he didn’t like it he wasn’t doing it,” she said. “He was brave, strong and loyal and with him by your side you knew everything was going to be ok.“I’d like to thank him for looking after me and Mark; even when he was in pain, he never faltered. It was never meant to end like this, he was so loved, and we are going to miss him so much.”The police force said it is “incredibly proud to say that he will always be part of our policing family.”

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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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