Memorials to Fallen K-9s 2009-C The F.A.S.T. Co. donates sets of memorial cards to all partners I need your help to inform me of such losses.

Root canal surgery ends life of K9 partner
By Jessica Langdon (Contact)Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Josh Brown walks with his K9 partner at the scene of a major drug bust at 274 Cartwright. Brown is the first K9 handler for the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office. TRN file photo Josh Brown walks with his K9 partner at the scene of a major drug bust at 274 Cartwright. Brown is the first K9 handler for the Wichita County Sheriff’s Department.

When Deputy Josh Brown and his 4-year-old K9 partner joined the ranks of the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office in January, everyone looked forward to seeing the results the German shepherd would bring, especially in the fight against drugs. Clif did make a dent, one of his major accomplishments coming in March when he sniffed out more than 100 grams of what authorities believe was well-concealed cocaine in a vehicle that was passing through Wichita County. Clif’s unexpected death Saturday during a routine root canal operation came as a shock to Brown — who has worked with him for years through a partnership that began in Clay County and this year moved to Wichita County — and to their colleagues at the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office. When the pair came to Wichita County, Brown let the office know Clif had a tooth problem that would need work; and Saturday, he took his dog to the Dallas area for oral surgery with a veterinarian who specializes in that field. Brown was there when they put Clif under for his surgery and stayed throughout the procedure. About four hours in, the unexpected news came — Clif was crashing and within a short time, he had died. Clif would have turned 5 next month. It was a long trip home for Brown, who raised Clif as part of his family. He bought Clif from Clay County when he joined the WCSO. You know going into K9 work that the eventual loss of a dog is one of the drawbacks, he said. The loss of Clif came out of the blue. Brown’s 6-year-old daughter, who has known Clif most of her life, gave Brown one of her stuffed German shepherd puppies this weekend which also shared the name Clif. She also offered some of the most comforting words to her family after their dog’s death. “‘Mommy, God just needed a dog, and He got the best one,’” Brown quoted her Monday. Brown, a certified dog handler, said he “definitely” wants to work with another dog, and the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office wants to bring another dog onto the force. However, Sheriff David Duke said, there is no money for that within the 2009 budget. With a request already to add 27 positions in his proposed 2010 budget, money for a dog won’t come then, either. With that in mind, he appealed to individuals, organizations and businesses within the community to help with the purchase of a new dog for the county. The dog’s main purpose is to work in drug interdiction, he said. Brown estimated that one dog working for a year can reduce the need for 600 to 800 man hours.The initial cost of buying a dog runs from $5,000 to $10,000, he said. Duke said it was always comforting to know Brown’s K9 partner was with him when he could hear the dog barking in the background when Brown called in on the radio. Duke said, in his opinion, a dog is a necessity in keeping a proactive role in the fight against drugs in the community. “These people are getting better at hiding these items,” he said, and the investigations are labor-intensive, so having a dog plays a major role. He had hoped to have two dogs at some point; the loss of Clif places the office back at the point of getting one dog for now. Being a K9 handler isn’t for everyone. “You have to have the heart and will to be tied to a K9,” not only during working hours, but at home, as well, Duke said. “That’s a dedicated person,” he said. He wants to see Brown paired with a new dog in the near future. The use of donated funds would have to go before the Commissioners Court for final approval, and Duke plans to address that soon. He broke the news of Clif’s death to the commissioners during Monday’s meeting. He urged anyone interested in donating funds for a dog to contact him or Brown at the Sheriff’s Office at (940) 766-8170.
Reporter Jessica Langdon can be reached at (940) 763-7530 or by e-mail at langdonj(at)Times RecordNews.com.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Root canal surgery ends life of K9 partner By Jessica Langdon (Contact)Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Root canal surgery ends life of K9 partner
By Jessica Langdon (Contact)Tuesday, May 12, 2009