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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 Rhodes & 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 |
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Just A Dog
Author – Unknown
You say I’m “Just a Dog” then why would it be,
If you spell my name backwards god is what you see.
I have many jobs, one is protecting your life
Or making sure your family’s safe when that prowler is out at night I would chase down any man who hurt someone,
I would protect you with my life until my job is done.
I search for drugs in many different places,
I can pick them out of anything even though they come in many different phases.
I can sniff out a bomb that might be in your child’s school,
I would risk being blown up to make sure your child comes home to you.
If you’re hurt in the woods or just lost and scared I will search as long as it takes to make sure your life is spared.
I am loyal to my master for they are first in my eyes,
I will always stand beside them for we are partners till I die.
Of all these jobs that I do,
My most important is protecting you.
Protecting your life with the risk of losing mine even though I have never met you.
So after all theses things that you read,
Tell me when you look into my eyes is “Just a Dog” all you see? |
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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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