K9 Rax – Ross, Ohio

Handler – Officer Craig Montgomery

Retired Ross County K-9 passed away

Retired drug-sniffing dog, Rax, passed away last week after five years of service in Ross County. Rax, also known as “Big Mac,” served under the Ross County Sheriff’s Office from 2014 to 2019 with his handler, Craig Montgomery. Wife Beth Montgomery posted on Facebook Saturday, “Our beloved retired K9, Rax, crossed the rainbow bridge today …. at home, with his family surrounding him with love. To the community he was known as “Big Mac” the drug sniffing narcotics K9. but to us.. he was simply family. He always had our six… but we have the watch from here .. rest easy big guy.”Rax took his final ride last week with a convoy consisting of law enforcement from several counties to show support on the way to Schoedinger’s funeral home.

Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.