In Loving
Memory of
K9 TEDDY
August 10, 2009
Handler: Sgt. Don Evans
Essex County Sheriff's Department
Cancer claims K-9 Teddy, 12
Don Evans
with his K-9 partner, Teddy, in 2003. The partners had just
taken home numerous K-9 unit awards in a regional competition.
Teddy was put down Monday after a battle with cancer.
Cancer
has claimed a top dog. Teddy, the 12-year-old award-winning
police dog with the Essex County Sheriff's Department, died
Monday after a short battle with cancer. "We found out he had
cancer two weeks ago," said Florence Evans, whose son, Don, is a
sergeant with the sheriff's office. "We took care of him, and we
had him on medication. He just started going downhill." Teddy
retired from the Sheriff's Department two years ago. But in his
eight years of service, the German shepherd racked up award
after award for his skills at regional police dog competitions.
He was also invited to many national competitions.
While on the job, Teddy captured numerous suspects and had
multiple narcotic finds under his belt, his former partner said.
"He's going to be sorely missed, but he had a great life and a
great career. He protected me all those years, so I can't
complain," Don Evans said. Teddy retired from the sheriff's
office when his hips started to give, a problem common with the
breed. After that, Teddy went from being a part working dog and
part family dog to full-time family dog. The family even built a
ramp on the steps so Teddy
could get up and down easily.
Problems started when Teddy started getting sick. An ultrasound
and X-ray showed the dog had tumors on his liver, spleen and
lungs. The Evans family took Teddy home to take care of him, but
his health quickly deteriorated. The family brought the dog to
the veterinarian's office on Monday and put him to sleep." He
was in a lot of pain," Florence Evans said.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9 TRAKR
April 26, 2009
  
Partner/Handler:
Constable James Symington
Halifax Regional Police K-9 Unit
1975 Gottingen Street - Phone:
902-490-5016
Halifaxd, Nova Scotia
B3J2H1
http://www.halifax.ca/Police/departments/K9.html
Legendary German Shepherd Hero "Trakr" Dies at Age 16.
Legacy of 9/11 Rescue Dog to Live on through Cloned Puppy, Growing Interest from
Hollywood in Creating a Movie
I am honored to have been Trakr's partner, best
friend and lifelong companion. He possessed a rare combination of uncanny
intuition,
pure heart, and relentless courage and has been an inspiration to so many. He'll
live in my heart forever.
World's Most Clone worthy Dog.
Trakr - Heart of a Hero
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB)
April 30, 2009 -- Trakr, the heroic German Shepherd whose 9/11 rescue, legendary
police work and community service made him one of the world's most revered dogs,
died peacefully early this week of old age at his home. He was 16, according to
spokeswoman Linda Press.
Trakr first attained hero status in the 1990s as both a K9 police and a search
and rescue dog whose acuity for locating people, evidence and stolen goods
quickly became renowned. Extraordinarily tenacious, Trakr was credited with
hundreds of arrests and recovered more than one million dollars in stolen goods.
He received accolades and global media attention throughout his career as a
result of both his accomplishments and his ability to capture the hearts of all
he touched.
But search and rescue was Trakr's true calling. His exceptional abilities were
showcased around the world following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Trakr and his
partner, then Police Officer James Symington, were one of the first K9 search
and rescue teams to arrive at Ground Zero. In addition to locating numerous
victims, Trakr found the last survivor buried beneath the rubble. For his heroic
efforts, Trakr was presented with the Extraordinary Service to Humanity Award by
Dr. Jane Goodall, United Nations "Messenger of Peace," and was featured in books
and magazines dedicated to 9/11 heroes including, Dog World and In the Line of
Duty.
Commenting on Trakr's life, Symington said, "I am honored to have been Trakr's
partner, best friend and lifelong companion. He possessed a rare combination of
uncanny intuition, pure heart, and relentless courage and has been an
inspiration to so many.
He'll live in my heart forever."
Throughout his career, Trakr
and Symington were closely involved with various charities. Trakr was the first
police K9 to have his head shaved for Cops for Cancer, a national initiative for
kids with cancer. He was also a regular guest of various children's
organizations, schools and hospitals where kids would eagerly line up to rub his
belly and get his autographed police card. Remarkably perceptive, Trakr always
reached out to children with disabilities who were unable to come to him.
Without exception, he would seek them out, licking their hands and evoking
smiles and giggles.
While Trakr dedicated his life to fighting for others, the fight for his own
life was often perilous. Symington helped him narrowly escape death when a few
misguided Canadian Police officials proposed a euthanasia policy for all
retiring K9 dogs. After his 9/11 rescue, Trakr collapsed from smoke and chemical
inhalation, burns and exhaustion. Likely a result of this exposure, Trakr was
disabled for the past two years, but he continued to be a devoted companion and
inspiration to many.
In 2008, Trakr received international attention again when BioArts International
named him the "World's Most Clone worthy Dog." This honor enables Trakr's DNA to
be used to clone a puppy, which Symington, now head of entertainment talent
management firm Prodigy Talent Group, plans to name Prodigy.
Trakr lived in Los Angeles with
Symington and his wife. The couple has been approached by various Hollywood
executives and best-selling authors to turn Trakr's dramatic and poignant story
into a book and movie. For more information about Trakr's amazing life, visit
his "Trakr
- Heart of a Hero" Facebook page.
Contact: Linda
Press- CorpCommunicators - 213-787-5627 -
Trakr
and James Symington; photo by Gabriel Bouys
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA for this K9 website
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