K9 Pluto – Wausau, Wisconsin

Died – 12/30/15
Handler – Officer Mark Jaeger

Wausau police dog Pluto dies

A retired Wausau police dog has died. K-9 Officer Mark Jaeger. Police say the Belgian Malinois named Pluto died December 30. The 13-year-old dog started working for the Wausau Police Department in 2005 and retired one year ago. “Pluto was a great partner at work and a wonderful member of our family,” according to Officer Jaeger. “Pluto enjoyed his one year in retirement but not as much as going to work every day. Pluto was involved in many things in his 9 year career, finding numerous drugs for us. I am especially proud of the time Pluto was able to indicate to me that someone was hiding in the ceiling of a business that was burglarized. The suspect was apprehended hiding in the ceiling. Pluto was awarded the Meritorious K9 Apprehension for the State at the annual Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association for this incident.

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.