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.
That fills in some valuable information. I wondered how this was handled. When we have left off our dogs they always have our cell phone #'s. We would always want to be notified immediately if there are any problems.
It has been awfully hot in Texas recently so this story sounds plausible. And Grapevine is a wealthy community so the financial loss will be absorbed readily but it is a real shame to see such a fine animal meet such an untimely end.
I would add one thing, however. The kennel should have put the animal in a totally enclosed kennel; including the top to preclude him from climbing out. As tall as he was and as adept in what he did it would not be unreasonable that he might somehow get over a six foot fence which after all isn't all that tall. The dog stretched out would be taller than that. So the kennel is not exactly off the hook. They didn't use good judgment in placing him in that area.
My neighbors have a covered chain-link kennel for their Rottweilers. Otherwise those things would be loose!
Here is the fetch over high jump requirement for dogs earning the Schutzhund 3 title:
8. Scaling a 1.8m high 1.5m wide fence off the leash and retrieving an object belonging to the handler (15 points)
The fence has two sloping sides measuring 1.9m in height and 1.5. in width, each fitted with three rungs measuring 24 mm by 48 mm on the outside surface. The distance between the bases of the two sides must be calculated so that the summit of the fence is 1.8m above the ground (measure at a right angle to the ground).
The handler takes up position in front of the fence at a suitable distance from it. His dog sits at his heel, off the leash.
The handler may throw any object the dog can carry over the fence instead of a personal possession if he so desires. On being given the audible commands “Jump” and “Fetch” the dog must scale the fence, quickly seize the object, climb back over the fence and sit very close to the handler, facing him. It must hold the object for a few seconds and then, in response to the audible command “Give”, return it to the handler. On the audible command “Heel” the dog must sit down immediately at the handler’s heel.
The audible command “Fetch” must given before the dog reaches the object.
This dog is a police dog. Ergo he has gone over many more extremely high fences/walls (slippery 1s, too!) than even the standard schutzhund. They have to scale wood or painted concrete barriers - NOT "sloped" such as schutzhund, but normal every-day vertical barriers. No traction.
A chain-link fence of only 6' is asking for trouble. I agree that it would've been better to have a ceiling fence on it. However, I still don't know that I'd sue the place. How could they know?
I'm sorry, but I'm talking about transferring the dogs, not simply dogs in an enclosed kennel. There had better be some kind of collar on the dog when moving her around, or "walking" her, etc, but I'd prefer a choke specifically.
>However, I still don't know that I'd sue the place. How could they know?<
Exactly. Boarding kennels target housepets, and not many people train their dogs to jump, or climb that high. Some kennels in my area have provided a run to police departments, to house K-9's.
It's my feeling that the police department, in that case, has a duty to give specific instructions to the kennel owner, on how to properly kennel a dog trained to routinely scale a 6 feet or higher obstacle.
A good kennel is set up so that you open the door to where you want the dog to go and you open the door to where the dog is and it forms a hall of sorts so that the dog has no choice. I agree that a choke is best in any situation involving a leash.
Ah. But, you're also talking about a "kennel". Doesn't account for the vets, who often simply walk the dogs outside the office for potties. Indeed, I would like if I knew my vet had max control over my dog when she needs to stay overnight.
GRAPEVINE – Darby the Grapevine police dog died because of heat stroke, according to necropsy results released by the Grapevine Police Department.
The heat stroke led to organ failure and circulatory shock, and eventually the dog’s death, according to a report by veterinarian Dr. Tracey Deiss of the Roanoke Animal Hospital. Exam reports from the Corinth Animal Hospital, where Darby was examined just before he died, stated that Darby had a body temperature of 109 degrees, Deiss said in an interview. Deiss said a dog’s normal body temperatures is between 99.5 degrees and 102.5 degrees.
Darby was left by his handler, officer Brian Hintz, at the Corinth Animal Hospital’s kennel on the morning of June 22 because Hintz was going out of town, police have said. Later that morning, Darby scaled a 6-foot chain link fence in an exercise area to escape and tried to run to Hintz’s home, police said. A hospital employee tracked the dog for about 25 minutes on a motorcycle before losing him, police said. Hintz found Darby near his home already collapsed from heat stress and took him to the Corinth hospital, where he died, police said.
Hospital staffers did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.
Deiss said the morning of June 22 was warm and humid, and Darby appeared determined to get back to Hintz’s home about a mile away from the hospital. The dog could have brought heat stroke on himself by running hard for five or 10 minutes after escaping, Deiss said. A hospital employee on a motorcycle following the dog may not have been a factor, she said.
Darby had been boarded at the Corinth facility many times before, and the department sees no problem that the dog was boarded there when Hintz was out of town, said Sgt. Bob Murphy, a police spokesman. Darby was valued at $20,000 to $30,000. -
–Bill Teeter
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