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Died 7/6/20
Handler – Officer Len Gosselin
Retired Bellingham police dog dies
In the 27 years that Len Gosselin has worked in law enforcement, “Spyder” was the best police dog he’s ever had. On Monday, he said goodbye to his best friend of 10 years. Spyder, a member of the Bellingham Police Department’s K9 unit since 2010, died Monday at age 13. About six months ago, the German shepherd was diagnosed with vestibular disease, which affects the nervous system and results in loss of balance and disorientation. “It’s basically like a stroke that dogs can get,” said Gosselin, who has been a police officer since 1993 and is currently a school resource officer for Bellingham Public Schools. Despite that, Spyder worked as Bellingham’s police dog right up until March, when Gosselin decided to retire him due to the disease. In the last week or so, Gosselin noticed Spyder was having problems with his hips and back right leg. On Sunday his movements were limited, and his condition soon worsened, said Gosselin. On Monday, Spyder couldn’t get up on his own. That same day, Gosselin and his wife Jen, who is also a Bellingham police officer, brought Spyder to the Banfield Pet Hospital where he died. He was then cremated at the Final Gift Pet Memorial Center in Cranston, Rhode Island. Gosselin took Spyder out for his last car ride around town on Friday. Spyder worked longer than a typical police dog, said Gosselin. On average, a police dog works about eight years, he said; Spyder worked for more than 11, until he was nearly 13. And he may have worked longer if he hadn’t gotten ill, said Gosselin.Born on April 20, 2007, Spyder was nationally-certified in patrolling and tracking narcotics, first joining the Boston Police Department after graduating from patrol school and narcotics detection school. For a year and a half Spyder worked with a female officer in Boston, said Gosselin, until the officer was promoted to detective. The department told Gosselin they would donate Spyder to the Bellingham Police Department if he was interested. Spyder was a serious dog with an aggressive bite — not a dog others could pet. He also favored women and didn’t like men. But Gosselin knew Spyder was the one for him. “I always liked the tough dogs,” said Gosselin, who has worked with dogs since he was 18. “We took him and never looked back.”
In May 2010, Spyder joined the Bellingham Police Department, and went on to win several trophies for his participation in the United States Police Canine Association, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to training and certifying canines. Spyder also worked in neighboring towns, including Mendon, Holliston and Uxbridge, until those communities acquired their own police dogs, said Gosselin. Spyder even modeled a life-saving vest as “Mr. May” for Vested Interest in K9 Inc.’s 2013 calendar, which raises money to vest police dogs.“He was a good dog. Tough dog, but a good dog,” said Gosselin, who has previously handled four other police dogs. “He’s probably the best dog I’ve had in my 27 years (with the police department).” Training to be a police dog since he was just a year and a half, flashing lights or the ticking sound of a car blinker immediately excited Spyder, said Gosselin. “It’s like having a loaded gun with you,” he said. One time while on duty in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the mere presence of Spyder was enough to make a suspect emerge from hiding after being sought after for an hour by police. When Gosselin and Spyder arrived at the scene, the entire neighborhood was locked down, said Gosselin. He gave the suspect’s jacket to Spyder for him to sniff, and the pair started clearing yards. About 20 minutes into their search, the suspect called out, “Officer, if I come out, will that dog bite me?” The suspect eventually emerged from his hiding spot without incident, said Gosselin, who credits Spyder for that resolution.No memorial or drive-by funeral is being planned to honor Spyder, said Gosselin, but he added he’s grateful that he received an urn with Spyder’s ashes — for free — from the memorial center in Rhode Island. The department is not currently looking to get another police dog, said Gosselin. The Gosselins currently have two therapy dogs — Hawk, a 8-month-old black lab, and Scout, a 4-month-old white lab. As schools prepare to reopen with regulations amid the coronavirus pandemic this fall, Len Gosselin said Hawk and Scout are also more than prepared to return to duty. Dispatchers occasionally call Gosselin to see if Hawk can stop by to provide his services. “It sounds like (students) are going to be even more cooped up at school with no cafeteria time or gym class,” he said. “I would think we need (these dogs) now more than ever.”
