Seattle, WA 98104
  Working hard for a rolled-up towel Reported by John Stofflet, Evening Magazine  What government worker helps keep us safe and expects nothing more than a rolled-up towel in return? The answer is found at Sea-Tac Airport. They're man's best friend, but not if you're a drug smuggler. Last year alone, U.S. Customs Service canine teams detected hundreds of tons of illegal narcotics, worth several billion dollars on the street. Since 1970, customs has been using specially trained dogs, usually rescued from animal shelters, to detect illegal narcotics in packages or luggage entering our country. The canines can inspect several hundred packages or bags an hour. "If we had to hand-pick through all the bags, if we had to stop each individual and speak to them, we would be here all day just to do one flight,” said Sean Mulligan. Officer Mulligan and Blondie, a golden retriever rescued from an animal shelter, went through four months of training together. If she smells drugs in someone's luggage, she'll simply sit down. As a reward, she gets to play with a rolled-up towel. The officers don't mind letting their partners enjoy their reward. After all, these canine cops work hard, and never complain. The dogs' skills are well known among smugglers. In fact, customs officers watch for nervous reactions when the dogs come in to the baggage area. “As soon as the dogs come out here looking for narcotics, we're also looking at the passengers as well. If you start seeing passengers moving away from the dog, that kind of gives you a clue,” said Luis Sanchez. The dogs have to have at least a 95% success rate at finding drugs to stay on the job. A sad update to that story. K-9 enforcement officer Sean Mulligan lost his partner, Blondie, to cancer on New Year's Eve. Blondie was a customs dog for 5 years. In that time, Blondie was responsible for several busts, including discovering 57 pounds of marijuana on a Canadian fishing boat in 2000. Officer Mulligan says Blonde's greatest accomplishment though, was visiting thousands of school kids at countless schools in the area and educating them about the dangers of drugs. Sean says the kids don't always remember him, but they always remember Blondie.
************ On New Year's Eve, I lost my loyal partner, "Blondie." She was diagnosed with cancer on December 13th.   My wife and I were able to spend Christmas with Blondie.   Blondie was a 7 year old Golden Retriever. We started working together in 1997. At the time I was assigned to work for U.S. Customs in Calgary, Canada. Blondie was discovered at a animal shelter in California.  Blondie got sick on Nov. 27th, 2001. On Dec 6th, she had surgery to remove a tumor from the right side of her heart. The results came back, the tumor was malignant, exactly one year to the day, Dec. 13th, I lost my dad to cancer. Blondie was released from the vet hospital on Dec. 14th. She came home with me to recover. She "officially" retired on Dec. 23rd. The best Christmas present was just that Blondie got to spend Christmas with me and my wife. Blondie's health and attitude was great. We spoiled her with gifts and her own turkey dinner. It didn't take her long to learn how to enjoy the "retired" life, going for rides, going on walks and even watching football games on the couch.  TO HONOR BLONDIE:  Irish Blessing    May the roads rise to meet you,  May the winds be always at  your back,  May the sun shine upon your face,  The rains fall softly upon the fields,  And until we meet again,  May God hold you in the  hollow of His hand. 

UPDATE
3/26/2009 - Earlier this month Stephanie and Sean (a CBP field canine trainer) Mulligan set out to collect 1,000 pounds of food to donate to a local Seattle Animal Shelter. This year’s Annual St. Patrick’s Bash at the Mulligan home netted a whopping 2,460 pounds of pet food and $600 in gifts, tripling last year’s cash donations!  According to the Tacoma Humane Society, this is enough to sponsor one of their K9 kennels and called the donation a “Pot o’ Gold for Homeless Pets!”  Sean and Stephanie Mulligan with two full vehicles containing more than a ton of donated pet food from their 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Bash.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 BART
December 13, 2001

Handler: Peter Bryce
 Canine Specialist Protection,
3 Oaks Training Kennels.
Botley Road, Bishops Waltham. 
Southampton, England
SO32 1DR UK 

From Peter:
My boy's name was Bart, a long coat German Shepherd Dog. He died on the 13/12/01 at 10-40 hours. He had a ruptured spleen. also a tumor from his kidney's to his liver. The vet let him go while under the anesthetic. He was with me for ten years, good and bad times. I lost a friend yesterday. A friend I had loved for ten years. His passing has left a void which will never be filled again.  He was part of me, my companion and protector, my ears and my eyes. We did not need words. We anticipated each other. We were one, beside each other every day throughout the years. His only purpose in life was to please me. We worked and relaxed together. For those short years, we were inseparable. The end was quick with no warning. We had no time to prepare. For my friend this was a blessing as the pain was short, but my pain will last much longer because I had no time for good-byes. 
My handsome, majestic friend has gone ahead of me............
Wait for me, Bart, as you have done before. I will walk through that door one day and you will be by my side once again.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 BRIX
November 18, 2001

Handler: Corrections Officer First Class
Sam Stottlemyer 
Frederick County Sheriff's Department
(301) 631.3025 & 365.3613
7309 Grove Road - Frederick, MD 21704 
Ph: 301-694-1532 
E-Mail: mailto:Jim_hagy@co.frederick.md.us
 

In Loving Memory of
K-9 BLITZ
Born in Canada - October 11, 1987- March  26,  2001 

Handler:  Detective Bob Valencia
 Overland Park Police Department
12400 Foster St.
Overland  Park, KS  66213

I am a member of the Overland Park Police Department in Overland Park, Kansas and currently am a member of the K-9 section and have K-9 Bruno. My trainer, Bob Valencia recently had to put to down his police K-9 BLITZ who was 14 years old.  Blitz was the first dog on the department and  Bob's trusted friend for many years. The lieutenant of the Corps read Blitz eulogy and the fact that Blitz had a love for fast food. Another lieutenant read,
"The Rainbow Bridge."
The fast food story was also told. Bob spent his last five dollars on Arby's roast beef, and when  Bob was out of the car and Blitz decided to help himself. Just on of the many memories of Blitz. The chief presented a plaque to Bob. It hurt him deeply when he made the trip to the vet that one last time and held Blitz in his arms.  As he watched his eyes close I'm sure he felt as if his heart was breaking.  Our police department buried Blitz in front of the station. We have been assured, that when our dogs time comes to pass on, the department will honor them properly.    Thank You,   Robbie

THE TIME HAS COME 
If it should be that I grow frail and weak, 
And pain should keep me from my sleep, 
Then, will you do what must be done, 
For this, the last battle cannot be won. 
You will be sad, I understand, 
But don't let grief then stay your hand, 
For on this day, more than the rest, 
Your love and friendship must stand the test. 
We have had so many happy years, 
What is to come, can hold no fears, 
You would not want me to suffer so, 
When the time comes, please let me go. 
Take me to where my needs they'll tend, 
Only, stay with me until the end. 
And hold me firm and speak to me 
Until my eyes no longer can see.
It is a kindness you do for me. 
Although my tail its last has waved, 
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you 
Who has decided this thing to do, 
We've been so close, we two, these years, 
Don't let your heart hold any more tears. 
(unknown author) 

In Loving Memory of
K-9 BRUNO
May 23, 2001

Handler: Lt. Ethan A. Hazard
The Pine Knoll Shores Police Department 
M.M. Muhlig, Chief of Police
100 Municipal Circle
Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512
(252) 247-4353 ext. 15
The worst thing was my beloved Gabby was in the car too and in all the mayhem of trying to get me out of the car some very nice people who had stopped were trying to get Gabby out and she got away from them. She ran across four lanes of traffic into the woods. I would not let them keep me in the hospital and went searching for my "child". The local police were WONDERFUL - formed search parties and in freezing temps we looked and looked  - through the woods, through the water and mud FOR 3 DAYS! The local newspaper ran an ad for me with Gabby's picture and I had flyers printed up and posted in every mailbox  with, of course, a reward offered. People would see her and she would run away  - it was awful because I was always just 5 minutes late getting to her. Finally, friends were due in to get me and take me home and to a hospital when the chief of the   police department called and said "I see her and she' so about 1 block from you right now". Finally she had gotten herself inside a huge fenced in area and the entire police department drove through front yards and backyards and surrounded Gabby. I, at long last got my hands on her!!! Everyone was crying out in the middle of this field! I know the neighbors probably thought we were after some big time criminal after we tore through everyone's yard! Gabby had some cuts on her paws and had lost 2 lb.. but she was fine! just could not thank that police department enough - they were a very small department with old,old,old equipment. I went and got them a new scanner and printer and Gabby and I delivered it on the way out of town (police departments cannot accept gifts so I told the Chief to consider it "found property". I don't know how Gabby made it - but finding her sure helped me to make it! Anyway, staying out of the hospital did not really help my condition but Gabby was more important than my problems at that time. After months and months of procedures and 20 plus injections in my back and shoulder it was determined that nothing could be done for my shoulder and upper back. I went through withdrawal to get off all the narcotics (that was pure hell and some other time I'll tell you about oxycotin hell). I went through rehab in Charlotte for a month and I am as good as I can be right now. I have some permanent disability but not enough to keep me from work! It has been a long haul and friends and loved ones like you guys helped me make it. Well, I guess I need to get to work but I did want to fill you in a little. 
I want to thank you for your wonderful web site and being a kind and understanding person. So many people fail to understand that the death of this "dog" was actually the loss of a partner and police officer. I have now lost two officers that were mine as a chief; one was a "human" police officer killed in the line of duty, and I feel the loss no less with Bruno. We have a saddened police department. Lt. Hazard has a 10 year old boy that is also devastated. Bruno was the complete K-9, talented, loyal, fearless and a loving family pet. Bruno earned countless awards for successful drug raids, finding lost children and the elderly, locating escaped prisoners and valor. Bruno proved himself repeatedly. He always served his partner and community with pride and  professionalism. Intelligent, loyal and fearless were his police traits. Loving, face licking "good boy" was his soul. He will be a partner for life. His death is still under investigation. Bruno was found hanging outside of his kennel at his handler's home on the morning of May 23,2001. We may never know exactly what took place or how Bruno was lost to all of us. The difficult thing is he is gone and we must pull it together and go on. Bruno would have it no other way.
Mary M. Muhlig,  Chief of Police- Pine Knoll Shores, NC 
*********
The accident is a mystery for me and the investigating trooper - the other driver simply said she wanted to turn down that side street and just did not see me! no drugs, alcohol or functioning brain cells I guess (smile). It could have been worse so I just continue on and try to remember how much stronger I am for it (that which does not kill us makes us stronger). well, I am heading out to check my town and patrol.  Mary
p.s. Gabby is a 7 year old mixed breed schnauzer / lab "wanna be police dog". The Shallotte Police Department who were instrumental in finding Gabby.
Bruno's headstone & Pine Knoll Shore Officers -The flag was present to Ethan on Oct. 9, 2001

Chief Mary had a serious car accident, MARCH 2002
The Highway Patrolman and local police at the scene of the accident thought the driver of my vehicle was dead (yup, I was the driver). I was traveling north on a two lane highway (speed limit 55) and someone going south decided to cut across the median and try to drive through my vehicle to get to a side road - it did not work! I saw the car coming and that was it I couldn't go anywhere just wait for that dreaded sound of impact. The impact (it-boned me in the driver's side door) spun my car around and threw it into another vehicle stopped at the side  road - that person was also transported to the hospital but thankfully was ok - if my vehicle had not hit that car I would have probably flipped and gone down the embankment. I can remember coming to and trying to figure out where I was -it turns out the impact broke my seat and shoved my seat half way into the passenger side. I was literally looking up at the roof of my car. My legs came up under the dash and shattered the dash and were up under what was left of the dashboard and side of the car (the metal from the outside of the driver's door was partially inside and up against the left side of my body). My right side (kidney area) slammed into the center console and smashed it and somehow I was partially on top of the passenger's seat. The steering wheel was broken in half and the rear of the car was pushed up almost the back of the front seats. Anyway, I had a major concussion, torn muscles in my thoracic spine, left shoulder, deltoid area, and others. Lovely bruises on my face and legs (but no broken bones - amazing). 

 7/30/01 "KYRA" the newest officer & Partner for Lt. Hazard. Congratulations & welcome to NC. Bruno will never be forgotten

In Loving Memory of
K-9 BLUR
July 27, 2001

"Blur was NOT just a dog!  He was an officer, he was one of us,  one of the family."
Handler: Officer John Allovio 
Waco Police Department
721 N. 4th St.
Waco, TX  76701

Officer shoots police dog during search for suspect By MIKE ANDERSON/Tribune-Herald staff writer Mike Anderson  Anderson@wacotrib.com or  757-5755. 
A Waco police officer shot and killed a police dog Friday during a search for a robbery suspect. Officers attempted to pull over a car about 3:15 a.m. at the intersection of West Avenue and North Ninth Street. The car was reported stolen in Dallas, said Waco Police spokesman Steve Anderson. The car's driver, Bradford Carr, 23, of Waco fled from police. Officers followed until Carr stopped the vehicle and fled on foot in the 800 block of Harlem Avenue, Anderson said. Officers surrounded the area, and with the assistance of a police dog, they began a yard to yard search, he said. As the canine and its handler approached the fence of one yard, Carr stood up and surrendered, Anderson said. An officer, hearing the commotion, approached the scene from behind the canine. The dog, sensing a threat to its handler, bit and held onto the approaching officer's left arm, Anderson said. The dog released the officer upon his handler's command. Another officer, with his gun drawn, approached from the same direction, and the dog again bit and held onto his left arm, Anderson said. Before the handler could order the dog to stop, the officer shot the canine in the side, he said. It died at the scene. "He shot on an impulse," Anderson said. "It was a very quick reaction to the seriousness of the situation. He fired one shot, and that killed the dog." Police would not release the names of the officers involved. Both bitten officers were taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where they were treated and released. Anderson said one officer's wounds required stitches. Anderson said the dog, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd named Blur, was purchased by the department in May. The dog was trained to use its mouth to restrain anyone it perceived as a threat to its handler. You can train and train and train, but then you get out into a high stress situation where everybody is tense and the suspect is believed to have a gun, and the unexpected can happen," Anderson said. "We will have to work this into our training in the future." The dog's body was sent to a veterinarian to check for rabies, he said. Waco's police dogs are used mainly to sniff out narcotics, but they are also used to locate weapons and track people. Anderson said the dog's death has been difficult for the department. "Sure it was only a dog, but it is still one of us," he said. "For the canine officer, this was his partner. It lived with him as part of his family. He's taking it very hard. It is also hard for the officer who fired the shot. It is a bad situation all the way around." Anderson said it was too early to determine whether a memorial service will be held for Blur. Both injured officers were on medical leave Friday. Waco police Sgt. Dennis Kidwell said there will be an investigation into the shooting, but said that is routine in such cases. Carr remained in the McLennan County Jail late Friday on charges of evading arrest and aggravated robbery, a jail spokeswoman said. Bond was set at $11,500, she said.

 In Loving Memory of
K-9 BUDDY
July 30, 2001

Handler: Officer Mike Davis
Bremerton Police Department
Department Chief of Police Robert D Forbes
239 4th St Bremerton, Washington 98337 (360)478-5220. 
Memorial service to be held Aug. 8, 2001 at 2:30 PM Bremerton High School

On 7/30/01 at 0145 hrs,
Officers responded to a City of Bremerton park to investigate a report of someone shooting a gun.  One officer spotted the suspects who started running through the park toward where Officer Mike Davis and K-9 Buddy where waiting.  K-9 Buddy engaged the suspect, who then shot  Buddy.  The suspect then shot at Officer Davis.  Officer Davis returned fire, hitting the suspect.  K-9 Buddy was rushed to Central Kitsap Animal Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  The suspect is in critical condition.  The suspect's gun was stolen last year in a burglary.  Officer Davis and K-9 Buddy where a new team, having replaced K-9 Zaro and I  when I got promoted.  They accredited in May.  K-9 Buddy was turning out to  be an excellent dog, well ahead of where he should have been on the learning  curve.  In his two months of service, he had over 10 captures.  The arrests included the drivers of several eluding vehicle, an escapee from Mission  Creek Youth Camp, several DV assault suspects and a suspect in a drive by shooting who fled after a pursuit.  He will be sorely missed. Sgt. Jim Burchett, Bremerton P.D.
Follow UP
Trial begins for suspect in Buddy shooting  August 20, 2002 - By Travis Baker - Sun Staff  (360) 792-9217
 Aaron Williams, also accused of trying to kill a Bremerton police officer, didn't fire any shots, his lawyer said. More than a year after a nighttime shooting at Lions Field took the life of Bremerton police dog Buddy, the trial of 22-year-old suspect Aaron Williams of Bremerton got under way Monday in Kitsap County Superior Court. Williams' defense against charges he tried to kill a Bremerton police officer after killing his canine partner may hinge on the darkness of Lions Field the night of the shooting and whether there were dog bite marks on Williams' arm. Those were the two main themes that emerged Monday as Williams' lawyer cross-examined the first prosecution witnesses in the trial arising from a July 30, 2001, shootout in the East Bremerton park. "It was not Mr. Williams who fired any of the rounds alleged to have been fired," lawyer John Muenster said in his opening statement. Police dog Buddy died of a bullet wound that early morning. His handler, Officer Mike Davis, testified that two shots also were fired at him. And Williams was hit in the side as Davis shot back. Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge set forth the evidence against Williams for Superior Court Judge Anna Laurie. She is hearing the case without a jury, at Williams' request. Hauge said police were sent to the park after Williams or his companion, Maurice Jackson, fired off a full clip of 9-mm ammunition in a residential street near the park. They were celebrating Williams' 21st birthday, he said. But the celebration turned deadly after the two ran to the park, Hauge said, and Officer Davis confronted a person there. He ordered the person to stop. Buddy was at Davis' side. He "was looking at me, waiting for a command," Davis testified Monday. When the person ran, Davis gave the command, "pauken" — German for "get 'em," Davis testified.
Buddy ran around a fence and "contacted" the person, Hauge said. One or two shots rang out and the dog was mortally wounded. Davis testified he saw it happen in the dim illumination from a street light and a light on a nearby house.He said he chased the suspect into a darker part of the park, clicking his flashlight on and off as he went. He saw the person had stopped with his arm extended toward him. He heard two shots and saw one muzzle flash, he testified. Davis said he then emptied his own gun at the moving suspect, 10 shots. Within one to three seconds of his last shot, he saw Williams lying on the ground, flailing around, wounded. Officer Clay Schultz, backing up Davis, testified as to what happened next. Schultz said he arrived and asked, "Where's the gun?" According to Schultz, Williams said, "I threw it," and nodded toward where Schultz testified he saw a gun on the ground, jammed and inoperable. Williams' lawyer questioned Davis at length about what and how he could see as he fired at the figure in the flickering flashlight beam.
He asked where the officer and the suspect were standing during the gunfire. He asked if it's possible Williams was shot while already on the ground. Davis said he doubted it. Muenster also asked Schultz if he saw any bite marks on Williams' arm, and was told no. He asked Davis about where Buddy was trained to bite a suspect and was told the first point of contact, unless it's the head or neck. Davis testified he saw Buddy going for or grabbing the suspect's arm. Hauge asked Davis about whether the dog might have struck Williams with an open-mouth bite then relaxed and held him by the arm of his shirt. Davis said that's possible. But there was no medical evidence presented in the first day's testimony as to whether Williams did or didn't have any bite marks.
Notation:
Since Bremerton started its K-9 program in 1982, the city has used 10 police dogs: Bo, Radar, Jake, Chase, Blaze, Tessie, Quazar, Zaro, Roscoe and Buddy. He was a new dog--barely two months on the street.  But, he already had ten captures and the admiration of almost everyone who saw him.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 BRUNO
August 20,2001
 
                                                                        1999 at the Connecticut K-9 Olympics. Officer Proulx & Bruno
Handler: Officer William Proulx
East Hartford Police Department
497 Tolland St.
East Hartford, CN 06108
      860-528-4401

Four-time police Canine Olympics winner euthanized  By Associated Press, 8/21/2001 17:46 - East Hartford, CN(AP)  Bruno, an East Hartford police department German shepherd  who assisted in more than 1,100 arrests and won the state police Canine Olympics four times, was  euthanized Monday.  Bruno ''went downhill really fast since retiring 10 months ago,  Officer William Proulx said.  Crippled by arthritis and Lyme disease, the 10-year-old dog had become progressively weaker,  despite doses of steroids. By last week, Proulx said, Bruno could no longer stand without  assistance. Bruno and Proulx graduated together from the state police canine training academy in May 1994, the top team of that year's class. When it came to work, Proulx said, Bruno was ''all business.'' But the dog who licked thousands of  hands and faces at schools, senior centers, Scout and 4-H camps, ''had both sides,'' Proulx said. ''He was such a friendly dog, he loved to be petted,'' Proulx said. Proulx said the dog saved his life several times, once spotting a man in the bushes who was aiming a  gun at the officer.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 BLAZE
Dec. 7, 1991 - Dec. 19, 2001 

Handler: Robert Leonard  C.F.E.I. 
Accelerant Detection K-9- WI