GERMAN SHEPHERD PING LIST
(Please Freep-mail me if you’d like to be on or off the list.)
Posted on 06/23/2006 5:37:26 AM PDT by Dysart
GRAPEVINE -- Darby, a Grapevine police dog, died Thursday morning because he could not stand to be away from his handler.
The 8-year-old German shepherd escaped from a Corinth boarding kennel and veterinary clinic and ran to the home of his handler, officer Brian Hintz, Grapevine police Sgt. Bob Murphy said.
Hintz dropped off the sable-colored dog at the boarding kennel because he was going out of town for a few days, Murphy said.
When Hintz found Darby at his Corinth-area residence, the dog was in physical distress. Hintz immediately took Darby back to the veterinary clinic, where he died. The death may be heat-related, Murphy said.
The dog will be examined by another veterinarian to determine the cause of death, Murphy said.
Hintz had been Darby's handler since the department got the dog in 2001, Murphy said.
"This incident was devastating to him," Murphy said, referring to Hintz.
Darby was trained for narcotics, patrol, tracking and attack work, and had an outstanding career, he said.
The department is planning a memorial service, but details are not final.
How unfortunate. 8 years old would be late-middle-age for a German Shepherd, right?
Awwww.
We had K-9 officers come to speak to our Cub Scouts every year in Oklahoma. The boys loved seeing how well-trained the dogs were, and the handlers were so committed to the dogs. I'm sure this is heartbreaking for the officer.
Wonder if the city plans to file suit against the kennel? Trained police dogs are very valuable.
Shame that a K-9 dog was left in a kennel. Too bad he couldn't be kept by another handler or stay at another cop's home.
GERMAN SHEPHERD PING LIST
(Please Freep-mail me if you’d like to be on or off the list.)
Yes, pretty much. Don't expect them to live beyond 11 or 12.
Let's not start blaming the kennel. I think keeping strange dogs is very difficult.
My only blame would be for them not using choke chains. A vet not using a choke chain was how the Grand Victor the other year slipped out of the handler's lead/collar and got run over by a car. Another great reason for chokes. A straining dog will not escape unless you let go of the lead.
Doesn't mean he wouldn't escape them, either.
Especially if you have a dog that's an escape artist.
We don't know ~how~ he got out, only that he did... and that he was smart enough to get home. It's just a shame he did it.
I'm not blaming the kennel, as I have no idea of the circumstances of the dog's departure. I just wondered whether the city might try to hold them financially liable. Depends on the terms of the boarding contract, probably.
We had to put our mastiff Tinker and our minpin Bebe in a kennel for 4 days when we moved, in January this year.
We called every day to check on them, 2nd day they told us Tinker was depressed and wouldn't eat or drink, so they put Bebe in with him for 24 hours to cheer him up. We had sent their beds and toys with them, too, but he is really attached to us...For a month after we moved, he stayed glued to our sides...
Click on my screen name to see the pals...
oh what an adorable duo! and a sweet story!
Tink is under my feet right now as I type. He is a really nice dog. Bebe is on that couch in the picture, sleeping on the pillow.
yeah, loosh is always at my feet if i am working at the computer, too : )
>Wonder if the city plans to file suit against the kennel? Trained police dogs are very valuable.<
Dogs with a lot of "drive" (read that hyperactivity) tend toward a syndrome that causes their body temperature to soar out of control. It's common in Belgian Malinois, but can also afflict German Shepherds. Police dogs are selected because of their drive to work (and to fight with a suspect). This is not a trait one would have in the average housepet.
It's not necessarily the fault of the kennel, if the dog became agitated, and went into hyperthermia. Boarding kennels are set up to handle pets as a rule, and many people are unaware of the hyperthermia syndrome that affects working shepherd-type dogs.
I think he probably became overheated on the trip home... not at the kennel.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
