Elk Grove Police K-9 Association |
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| A fact hard to deal with at times, when living with working K-9s, is that they pass away. In a perfect world, our K-9 partners would retire and live out their lives with us as family pets. They work for us with such dedication that is only fair they retire with the same from us. They mean too much, and I can’t think of a handler that would allow it. We spend 10 hours a day at work with our partners and then bring them home at the end of each shift and on the weekends. This means that we actually spend more time with our partners than we do with our family. Some of us bring our partners into our home as part of the family. We understand that they are working police dogs, but the types of dogs that we select are capable of knowing the difference between work and family life. Recently we have had some retired working dogs lives cut short. This has touched the entire unit. It is not easy to have a dog pass away, but it is even harder when a working K-9 passes. Each and every working day as a police K-9 handler, you are accustomed to opening your door, and letting your partner in to start the day. Suddenly, without warning or planning, that 40-hour-a-week bond stops. With retirement, you see it coming. You know the days are closing and you prepare. With a death, it stops. True, we start again at training a new partner, but it leaves a void in your heart. You feel a little cheated and left wondering how many “bad guys” were out there for you as a team to find. A small piece of you as a K-9 handler is locked away with that partner, a piece you won’t ever release again. In loving memory, we would like for all to say, "thank you" to our partners who died after giving years of service to our community. The following dogs have passed away: "Zantos", Patrol Dog (Retired) Handler: Brian Schopf "Grif", Patrol Dog (Deceased) Handler: Jody Tennis |
| Each K-9 handler is responsible for the expenses of the retired partners. Click on the PayPal link below, if you would like to make a donation to help support retired K-9s, |