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Handler – Senior Constable Tom Gryta
Police dog put down after fall
The first multi-purpose police dog dedicated to the Pilbara has been put down after failing to recover from a freak fall earlier this year that caused irreparable damage to his spine. Three-year-old Belgian shepherd Maygar was flown from Port Hedland to Perth in February and underwent surgery to alleviate pressure on his back bone. He was later returned home to his dedicated handler, Senior Constable Tom Gryta, in Port Hedland for rehabilitation but sadly never recovered from his injury. Sen. Const. Grytar said Maygar was unique because he was the first dual-purpose trained canine in WA to track offenders that had run away, or to stop disturbances and for drug detection. “We were used for several operations in Hedland, Newman Exmouth, Karratha and we helped out in Broome a couple of times with drug operations doing control points in airports and highways,” he said. Sen. Const. Gryta said when him and Maygar had first arrived in Hedland, they would be down at the shops helping out with issues relating to public order. “He had an incredible ability to switch between being calm, placid and approachable to then switching to a work mode,” he said. Sen. Const. Gryta said Maygar was a “world-beater” and overcame the challenging conditions of working in the Pilbara. “It’s hot, it’s dry, it’s not ideal for a dog to work in, and he just did an exceptional job,” he said. “He was a happy dog that loved to work. “Whenever we would get ready to go to work, and he would see me kit up, he would get so excited to jump in the car.” Sen. Const. Gryta said people in town got to know Maygar and thought of him as their dog. “He achieved a lot, I’m proud of him, and I hope the community is proud of the impact he had as well,” he said.
