March 21, 2008

They serve and protect our communities, and die in the line of duty to protect us. In respect of their lives, K-9 officers are now being honored for their service with their very own memorials.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Human and canine officers alike memorialized their partners during a ceremony at the Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor, Fla., recently, marking the end of the road for two dedicated dogs.

“They’d go out and do things most deputies wouldn’t want to do. Track people through swamps late at night and dark buildings,” said Sgt. Clark Wagner of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. “They loved their handler and the thrill of the hunt.”

Twelve canines are buried at the site. Two don’t have headstones yet. Both were Deputy Kevin Andress’ partners, German shepherds Exy and King. Andress credits both dogs for saving his life.

“Many times we came up on the suspect, and because of the dog, the situation was taken care of very, very quickly,” Andress said.

He called both dogs his “best friends.”

“People don’t realize we spend more time with these dogs than with even our families,” he added.

That fact wasn’t lost on Florida resident Ernest Bettini. He donated thousands of dollars to his local sheriff’s office so it could purchase a new canine. Bettini, whose brother is a state trooper, said his respect for these four-legged law enforcement officers when he lived in Orlando. He became friends with a trooper whose canine helped make a drug bust worth millions, and died in the process.

“Abby (the canine) died because of poison on the drugs the troopers confiscated,” Bettini said. “Without the dogs, we’d be missing a lot of narcotics going by, and criminal activity we’d miss without the dogs’ knowing, keen expertise and training.”

Sgt. Wagner said grateful residents have also supported canine units by donating money to purchase items such as bullet-proof vests for the dogs.

Rain cut the ceremony short. While it was was somber, Deputy Rick Tapia called it a celebration.

“It’s always a sad thing when you lose a partner, whether human or animal,” Tapia said. “But we’re proud people come out to honor the animals they way they do.”

Curlew Hills Memory Gardens donated the plot of land for free, not just for local K9-unit dogs, but for any other service dog from around the country to be laid to rest.

Tell us what you think about “K-9 Officers Are Now Being Honored for Their Service” below, and be sure to watch the video of this story at the top of your page. You can share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. You can send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.