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Died – 11/20/15
Handler – Constable Dave Roberts
K9 Winnie sadly passed on
A four–footed, furry protector of the North-West died on Friday. After eight years of distinguished service for Tasmania Police and five years as a loved family dog, Winnie sadly passed on. In her career, Winnie was in the protection of dignitaries including Prince Charles, Princess Mary of Denmark, the Sri Lankan cricket team and various politicians who visited the state. Constable Dave Roberts and PD Winnie started their friendship as one of the first Tasmania Police explosives detection dog teams in 2003. Working side by side for 10 years, Winnie became Constable Roberts’ partner and his friend. When Winnie retired in 2012, her transition from working dog to family pooch was not an easy one. “She was still in work mode and every time I would drive off in the work car she would pine for me,” he said. Constable Roberts said Winnie’s last years were full of family love. “All the kids doted on her,” he said. “They all took her to bed at night and fed her.” Constable Roberts described Winnie in her later years as cheeky. “She would find her way to the couch as soon as you would leave the door and as you would walk in the door you would see her stagger off quickly.” Constable Roberts said Winnie was attentive, with infrequent lapses of silliness. One such lapse happened at an international cricket tournament in Hobart. Constable Roberts was talking to a man who remarked on the intelligent nature of dogs. With perfect timing, Winnie demonstrated the opposite.”Someone walked through the glass door, it closed in front of her and then she just walked straight into it,” he said.
