Joe
A donation was made in memory of Joe by Doctors and Staff of the Mountain Vista Animal Hospital on Jan 05, 2015.
JOE 7/6/2000-12/23/2014
It is with a very heavy and broken heart that I have to report that on December 23rd I had to say a final goodbye to my retired K9 Joe (badge #24). He was 14 years and 5 months old when I hugged and held him for the last time. Somehow he managed to twist his colon and there was too much tissue damage. He was my first K9 partner and had an awesome career in the 7 years we worked together. He found 11 live IED’s, crucial post blast evidence, too many firearms and ammunition to count and a firearm buried under 6 inches of snow. He taught me a lot. He protected and met many dignitaries such as Presidents Bush 41 and 43, President Clinton, and President Obama. He enjoyed getting petted by celebrities Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia, Joan Rivers, Donald Trump and Bill Murray. He was quite the lady’s dog as the Miss America winners and Miss USA gave him hugs and had photos taken with him. He was very well known in the Las Vegas area major venues and was on the front page of a Sunday edition of Las Vegas Review Journal as well as being the feature of the In Depth Section. When he retired, the event was attended by the major television networks and he received many awards by local and federal agencies. He also received a distinguished service award from a local police department and a commendation from Senator Reid. He had more people attend his retirement than I will!
I have heard from countless canine handlers that you’re never prepared for having to say goodbye to your first K9 partner and everyone is right. It’s an awful loss. I, like other handlers, spent more time with my K9 partner than I did my family. I know with time it will get easier to maneuver around the huge paw print holes in my heart. RIP K9 Joe, you will be missed!
Lauren M.
It is with a very heavy and broken heart that I have to report that on December 23rd I had to say a final goodbye to my retired K9 Joe (badge #24). He was 14 years and 5 months old when I hugged and held him for the last time. Somehow he managed to twist his colon and there was too much tissue damage. He was my first K9 partner and had an awesome career in the 7 years we worked together. He found 11 live IED’s, crucial post blast evidence, too many firearms and ammunition to count and a firearm buried under 6 inches of snow. He taught me a lot. He protected and met many dignitaries such as Presidents Bush 41 and 43, President Clinton, and President Obama. He enjoyed getting petted by celebrities Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia, Joan Rivers, Donald Trump and Bill Murray. He was quite the lady’s dog as the Miss America winners and Miss USA gave him hugs and had photos taken with him. He was very well known in the Las Vegas area major venues and was on the front page of a Sunday edition of Las Vegas Review Journal as well as being the feature of the In Depth Section. When he retired, the event was attended by the major television networks and he received many awards by local and federal agencies. He also received a distinguished service award from a local police department and a commendation from Senator Reid. He had more people attend his retirement than I will!
I have heard from countless canine handlers that you’re never prepared for having to say goodbye to your first K9 partner and everyone is right. It’s an awful loss. I, like other handlers, spent more time with my K9 partner than I did my family. I know with time it will get easier to maneuver around the huge paw print holes in my heart. RIP K9 Joe, you will be missed!
Lauren M.
