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A Tribute to Our Fallen Partners
A fact hard to deal with at times, when living with working K9’s, is that they pass away. In a perfect world, our K9 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.
People quite often ask what happens to our partners when they retire. With the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, the handlers purchase the dog for a small fee and allow them to live out their life. We do not sell or give away the dogs outside the department. Our K9 partners mean too much, and we do not know of a handler that would allow it.
We spend 12 hours or more 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 K9 partners than we do with our family.
We bring our partners into our home as part of our family. We understand that they are working police dogs, but the type of dogs that we select are capable of knowing the difference between work and family life.
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It is not easy to have a dog pass away, but it is even harder when a working K9 passes. Each and every working day as a K9 handler, you are accustomed to opening your car 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 K9 handler is locked away with that partner, a piece you won’t ever release again.
Fortunately with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department we have not had to experience the death of a working K9 and we hope we never do, but we would like to say “thank you” to our partners who have died after giving years of service to our community.
The following dogs have passed away after serving with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit: |
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| “Falk” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Danny Thompson |
| “Basko” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Mike Horne & Mike Aranda |
| “Dago” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Chuck Buttell |
| “Zigan” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Steve Rhods & Mike Kennedy |
| “Barry” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Craig Adford |
| “Falk” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Steve Wade |
| “Pascha” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Steve Wade & Joe Rivas |
| “Kai” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Joe Rivas & Mike Izquierdo |
| “Blitz” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Al Moussa & Debbie DeMattia |
| “Uras” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Al Moussa |
| “Kim” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Nancy Alaniz |
| “Bar” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Harold Orr |
| “Vok” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Dave Sparks |
| “Duro” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Scott Hardy |
| “Edi” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Tony Aguirre |
| “Henk” |
Patrol Dog |
Partner-Tyler Liljekvist |
| "Canto" |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Cory Rubright & Bobby Marks |
| "Ben" |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Gene Martinez & Scott Duffner |
| "Ben" |
Patrol Dog |
Partner(s)-Mike Izquierdo and Scott Sedgwick |
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A Tribute To Service Dogs – My Partner
Author – Unknown
My dog is more than my partner you see,
Because he is a very good friend to me.
He’s the nose I don’t have, the eyes I have not,
He’s one of the best partners most cops ain’t got.
Day by day we do what we do best,
His four paws never seem to rest.
He always does whatever I ask,
Seeming to enjoy every task.
I know one day his work will be done,
But for now we can only have fun.
For my dog is more than a partner to me,
My dog is my best friend and he always will be. |
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A Police Dogs Prayer
Author: Unknown
Oh almighty God,
whose great power and eternal
wisdom embraces the universe,
watch over my handler while I sleep.
Protect my handler from harm
while I am unable to do so.
I pray, help keep our streets and homes
safe while my handler and I rest.
I ask for your loving care because
my handler's duty is dangerous.
Grant my handler your unending strength
and courage in our daily assignments.
Dear God,
protect my brave handler,
grant your almighty protection,
unite my handleDon’t grieve for me I served you well.
I loved you more than you could ever tell.
I am now an angel in blue.
I laid my life on the line for you.
I wore my badge with honor every day,
to keep citizens safe and out of harms way.
So when you see a badge worn with pride,
remember their comrades and friends that have died. |
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The Working Dog
Author: Unknown
My eyes are your eyes,
to watch and protect you and yours.
My ears are your ears,
to hear and detect evil minds in the dark.
My nose is your nose,
to scent the invader of your domain.
And so you may live,
my life is also yours. |
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