RCMP are still investigating a crash that left an officer from D Division in Winnipeg seriously injured and his service dog dead.
The accident, which happened near Saskatoon June 14, involved a collision between a pickup and an RCMP vehicle carrying a dog handler and two service dogs.
Police said the officer remains in hospital. The dogs were taken to Saskatoon University Veterinary Emergency Unit. One suffered only minor injuries, however the other was more seriously injured and had to be euthanized.
Patrol Sgt. Wally Antoniuk of the Winnipeg Police Canine Unit said he had just been on a training course in eastern Manitoba with the officer, who was there with his dog, “Rev”, and it was a shock to hear what had happened.
“At first it was shock like everybody else,” he said. “And sadness when we learned that his working dog was put down. The first concern is for his personal well-being. We understand he sustained some quite severe injuries, so you want him to be OK first. And then second, the loss of your partner, because the dog is your partner.”
The accident, which happened near Saskatoon June 14, involved a collision between a pickup and an RCMP vehicle carrying a dog handler and two service dogs.
Police said the officer remains in hospital. The dogs were taken to Saskatoon University Veterinary Emergency Unit. One suffered only minor injuries, however the other was more seriously injured and had to be euthanized.
Patrol Sgt. Wally Antoniuk of the Winnipeg Police Canine Unit said he had just been on a training course in eastern Manitoba with the officer, who was there with his dog, “Rev”, and it was a shock to hear what had happened.
“At first it was shock like everybody else,” he said. “And sadness when we learned that his working dog was put down. The first concern is for his personal well-being. We understand he sustained some quite severe injuries, so you want him to be OK first. And then second, the loss of your partner, because the dog is your partner.”
Losing service dog ‘a devastating loss’
Antoniuk said the dog that was euthanized was about eight years old and was about to retire.
“Your dog is always with you,” he said. “It’s a tough loss.”
He said he knew what the handler was likely going through - Antoniuk too had a service dog that had worked for a good seven years, then spent four years in retirement. Then, within the space of about two weeks, was diagnosed with cancer and died.
“I cried like a schoolgirl,” he said. “I know that’s not an appropriate term but it was one of the sadder days of my life, to tell you the truth. And he was retired.”
Antoniuk said it’s hard to describe the bond between a handler and a service dog.
The dog is with the handler at all times, at work and at home. When that bond is violently broken, it’s a shock.
“You’d be devastated,” he said. “It’s like a punch in the stomach, because even if you were retiring this dog, you would have been planning to have this dog at home…I’ve been a handler for years. I don’t know of anyone who’s ever turned their dog in. They’ve always kept them because you spend an incredible amount of time with that dog. You can read each other through body language. They are not pets. It’s like a contemporary almost, they just happen to be a dog. Your dog has served you well, so you want to look after it in its retirement and make it as comfortable as possible. To have it cut short like that in such a sudden manner, it’s devastating.”
Police said the dog that survived the crash was coming into service and would have replaced the more senior dog.
Antoniuk said the Winnipeg Police Canine Unit has sent their condolences to the officer for the loss of his dog, and their best wishes for his recovery. He said it will be hard for him.
“So it will be a big step. First of all he has to get better himself, and then I’m sure he’ll have to deal with the loss of his dog. And if he’s able, maybe he can move forward with another dog.”
Antoniuk said the dog that was euthanized was about eight years old and was about to retire.
“Your dog is always with you,” he said. “It’s a tough loss.”
He said he knew what the handler was likely going through - Antoniuk too had a service dog that had worked for a good seven years, then spent four years in retirement. Then, within the space of about two weeks, was diagnosed with cancer and died.
“I cried like a schoolgirl,” he said. “I know that’s not an appropriate term but it was one of the sadder days of my life, to tell you the truth. And he was retired.”
Antoniuk said it’s hard to describe the bond between a handler and a service dog.
The dog is with the handler at all times, at work and at home. When that bond is violently broken, it’s a shock.
“You’d be devastated,” he said. “It’s like a punch in the stomach, because even if you were retiring this dog, you would have been planning to have this dog at home…I’ve been a handler for years. I don’t know of anyone who’s ever turned their dog in. They’ve always kept them because you spend an incredible amount of time with that dog. You can read each other through body language. They are not pets. It’s like a contemporary almost, they just happen to be a dog. Your dog has served you well, so you want to look after it in its retirement and make it as comfortable as possible. To have it cut short like that in such a sudden manner, it’s devastating.”
Police said the dog that survived the crash was coming into service and would have replaced the more senior dog.
Antoniuk said the Winnipeg Police Canine Unit has sent their condolences to the officer for the loss of his dog, and their best wishes for his recovery. He said it will be hard for him.
“So it will be a big step. First of all he has to get better himself, and then I’m sure he’ll have to deal with the loss of his dog. And if he’s able, maybe he can move forward with another dog.”
Loss a blow to RCMP as well
RCMP said the loss of the dog was also a huge blow to the service because there are so few service dogs and they are expensive to train.
Antoniuk, speaking to reporters at the grand opening Friday of Winnipeg's new Canine Unit facility, said a fully trained dog with, for instance, specialization in detecting narcotics, is worth between $50,000 and $75,000.
Winnipeg Police also showed off a litter of pups from their breeding program - 11 Belgian Malinois.
Four will stay in Winnipeg, the rest have been sold to other police departments, including two that were to be picked up that day by officers from Minneapolis.
Antoniuk said the pups were about $5,000 each. He said the breeding program wasn't really a money maker for Winnipeg police but it did pay its own way, and provide police with excellent dogs for the K9 unit.
RCMP said the loss of the dog was also a huge blow to the service because there are so few service dogs and they are expensive to train.
Antoniuk, speaking to reporters at the grand opening Friday of Winnipeg's new Canine Unit facility, said a fully trained dog with, for instance, specialization in detecting narcotics, is worth between $50,000 and $75,000.
Winnipeg Police also showed off a litter of pups from their breeding program - 11 Belgian Malinois.
Four will stay in Winnipeg, the rest have been sold to other police departments, including two that were to be picked up that day by officers from Minneapolis.
Antoniuk said the pups were about $5,000 each. He said the breeding program wasn't really a money maker for Winnipeg police but it did pay its own way, and provide police with excellent dogs for the K9 unit.