Died – 6\/29\/18
\nHandler – Sergeant Shaun Dicks<\/p>\n
Award winning Port Elizabeth police dog dies<\/p>\n
An award winning Port Elizabeth police dog \u2013 who has assisted in the fight against rhino poaching and helped arrest more than 400 criminals \u2013 has died. Bruno, an eight-year-old Rottweiler, was euthanized on Friday after losing his battle with cancer. Bruno was diagnosed about two years ago but after receiving treatment, he was still able to continue with active duties until last month. Devastated handler Sergeant Shaun Dicks, 37, who had been working with Bruno for six years, said putting Bruno to sleep was one the hardest things he had ever had to do. Dicks said: \u201cI knew it had to be done. The tests confirmed that the cancer had returned and he was taken off duty to rest and spend his final moments at home.\u201d On Wednesday, Bruno\u2019s condition deteriorated and on Friday a decision was made to euthanize him. Dicks, who Bruno lived with, described him as a crime fighting machine who loved jumping out of helicopters and chasing criminals. Bruno was a trained patrol and explosive detection dog used to apprehend fleeing criminals as well as sniffing out any explosive type item, including guns and ammunition. During Bruno\u2019s six year career at the Port Elizabeth K9 unit he assisted Dicks with several arrests including catching hijackers, robbers, gangsters and burglars. Dicks said Bruno had been by his side during hundreds of arrests, estimating that together the team had caught about 400 suspected criminals. over the past six years. The team\u2019s success led to them winning the Annual Tracker Individual Award for recovering 50 hijacked and stolen vehicles between July 2016 and July 2017. In addition to this, the team arrested 98 suspects \u2013 mostly linked to vehicle theft or hijackings. Just two weeks ago, Bruno assisted with the recovery of a hijacked vehicle in New Brighton. \u201cWe were at the vet getting his stitches out of his leg when I got information of the hijacking. \u201cI put him in the police car and together we went off, finding the car abandoned a short while later,\u201d Dicks said. \u201cBruno was feared by criminals and he was dedicated to fighting crime. His tail would go crazy with excitement every time we had to go to work \u2013 he simply loved it. \u201cEven more so, he loved flying in the police helicopter.\u201d Dicks said in 2015, Bruno was deployed alongside him in the Kruger National Park to combat the on-going poaching crisis. \u201cWe made several arrests of suspected poachers and recovered lots of firearms while there. Bruno certainly did his bit to fight poachers,\u201d he said. In addition to flying in helicopters and chasing fleeing robbers, Bruno was also used to sniff out criminals hiding in buildings and even on-board boats at the harbor. \u201cWe often assisted in clearing the airport during sweeps to make sure no firearms or explosives were hidden there,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are just some of the things we do but no one hears about. \u201cTaking Bruno to the vet was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. \u201cHe was my partner in crime and really a great dog who was passionate about going to work in the morning. \u201cHe use to wake me up at 4am with his tail wagging waiting to go to work,\u201d Dicks said. \u201cI saw the difference in his behavior in the last few weeks and the only comfort I have is knowing that at least now he is not in pain.\u201d Animal Anti-Cruelty League spokeswoman Linda-Louise Swain called Bruno a \u201cchampion of champions\u201d who would be sorely missed. Swain said Dicks and Bruno had donated R10 000 worth of food and blankets after winning the Tracker Award last year. \u201cOur love and thoughts are with Shaun Dicks at this sad time. RIP Bruno. You have made your mark.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Died – 6\/29\/18 Handler – Sergeant Shaun Dicks Award winning Port Elizabeth police dog dies An award winning Port Elizabeth police dog \u2013 who has assisted in the fight against rhino poaching and helped arrest more than 400 criminals \u2013 has died. Bruno, an eight-year-old Rottweiler, was euthanized on Friday after losing his battle with …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5346,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-5344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-k9memorial","tag-south-africa"],"yoast_head":"\n