Last Ride for Police Dog Before Being Put Down

[The Straight Story]

Police officers consider K-9 partners members of the force.

So it was with great sadness that the West Hartford Police Department learned one of its own, Kora, a police dog, was being put down Monday. The 11-year-old was retired over the summer, after serving in the Department since 2003 with her handler, Officer Eric Rocheleau, according to Lt. David Dubiel.

Kora had developed cancerous tumors common with old age, and had to be euthanized Monday, Dubiel said. But Kora got one last chance at being a police dog.

Rocheleau took Kora to the vet Monday, and after some tests, was told the best thing for the dog was to put her down. Before that happened, the officers at the West Hartford Police Department agreed to take Kora for a final ride in a police cruiser.

"I was met at the vet with my old cruiser, and we were able to give Kora one last ride in her old car," Rocheleau told the Hartford Courant. "Both K-9 handlers, the K-9 unit supervisor, the sergeant on duty and animal control were there to give me support."

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Last-Ride-for-Police-Dog-Before-Being-Put-Down-136762998.html

[one_voice]

1. ....

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. .

[BlueJazz]

3. awww. poor girl.

[X_Digger]

4. D'aww :(

[AtomicKitten]

5. Goodbye sweet girl. Thank you for your service.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. I'm glad she got that last ride...

Entirely appropriate...

RIP, Kora...you did serve well...

[friendly_iconoclast]

7. It sure got dusty in here all of a sudden...

RIP, Officer Kora

[HillWilliam]

29. You too?

I seem to have something in my eye. Both eyes, even.

[TDale313]

8. aww...

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Peace, Kora.

Good dog. Good girl.

Enjoy the meadow by The Bridge. You'll find nothing but friends there, sweetie.

[a kennedy]

21. Our little wiener dog is there, and will be waiting for you Kora.....

Good girl.... RIP

[Saving Hawaii]

10. I remember seeing a local news story that talked about a gunfight between officers and a fugitive.

It said that 'an officer was shot in the hand'. Turned out that one of the K-9s took a bullet in the paw. I'm certain that was mostly the product of the folks at the news desk, but the officers really do consider these guys to be their own.

Sad to see any working dog being put down. They really are pretty special creatures.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Well, if that sweet old face doesn't make you tear up, nothing will.

[NBachers]

12. Part of being a loving and responsible pet owner is knowing when it's time . . .

but that still doesn't make it any easier. I have visions of my dog greeting me with joy when I get there

[Arkansas Granny]

15. Yes. Many times that's the last kind thing you can do for them.

[rurallib]

13. I don't know how anyone could have driven that vehicle

with the tears that must have been streaming down their faces.

[xchrom]

14. oh Kora, you sweet, sweet girl.

Peace on your journey

[4_TN_TITANS]

16. This amazing link in her, and all service dogs, honor

Pretty incredible stuff.

http://www.sinlung.com/2011/05/real-dogs-of-war-amazing-pictures.html

[Taverner]

17. I hope they gave the dog one last chance to attack a hippie

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. WTF???????

[Taverner]

19. You do know Cops don't bring K9 units so those arrested can have something to cuddle, right?

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. One thing I do know

is not to piss on people's feelings during a sensitive moment.

[Taverner]

25. I can be a callous asshole sometimes

Sometimes it works in my favor, sometimes it gets me punched

BUT...I invite you to watch what K9 units do, and how cops, when drunk on power (not all cops, but a few) use them.

Granted, I am sure some of the perps deserve it.

But watch some of the OWS police videos, and see how they used police dogs to threaten, intimidate and harass (and attack) protestors

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. Your point may be valid, but IMO, does not fit the tone of this thread.

EOM

[onenote]

27. And I invite you to read this story

By your own admission "a few cops" use K9s abusively and "granted, I am sure some of the perps deserve it."

Yet, being a callous asshole (your words), you choose to slander this particular dog.

Well maybe he was more like this dog: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/10/police_dog_shot_by_rape_suspec.html

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. Beautiful Kora.

[jorno67]

22. RIP Kora

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. so sad.

[great white snark]

28. Good girl.

No more pain. You play now.