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Buck
Forum Admin
USA
5724 Posts |
 Posted - 10/05/2009 : 8:16:06 PM
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quote:
St. Joseph County Prosecuting Attorney John McDonough has announced the death of K-9 Officer Anjia of the Three Rivers Police Department.
In a news release reporting her death, McDonough said Anjia died on September 30th at the age of 8-and-a-half years after being diagnosed in September with an auto-immune disease.
Anjia was recognized for her achievements as co-recipient of the Police Officer of the Year Award in 2008 and a certificate of commendation from the City of Three Rivers.
McDonough said, "Anjia will be sorely missed. K-9 officers are an extremely important part of law enforcement and community safety and thus essential to keep all of us safe."
McDonough said, "This safety comes at a cost" and indicated, that, in order the get and train a dog with the specialized skills involved, $10,000 is needed. And he said, "That is why I am asking the community for help."
McDonough said, "In this tough economic environment, law enforcement is one area that is experiencing cuts and replacing Anjia will be impossible without the support of everyone. This is why I, along with other county law enforcement officials, am asking businesses as well as the community to help raise the money."
McDonough said he has started by donating $1,400 from drug forfeitures and hopes that the rest of the money can be quickly raised.
McDonough said, "If you would like to donate money or learn more about the effort, please mail donations to the Three Rivers Police Department at 333 W. Michigan Avenue, Three Rivers MI 49093, or call (269) 278-1235."
McDonough said, "Thank you for all of your support and I look forward to introducing our newest K-9 later this year."
Source: River Country Journal. Including a link to more information about the job that Anjia did.
Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians. |
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EllenJ
Active Poster
USA
197 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2009 : 8:27:52 PM
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| I don't think that is all that old for a dog (even a big dog). Was this condition treatable? I wonder if there is money allocated for major medical expenses for these dogs? Or are these dogs considered more "dispensable" compared to a beloved family pet when expenses are concerned? |
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Buck
Forum Admin
USA
5724 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2009 : 8:54:40 PM
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EllenJ I am pretty confident that these dogs are "family" to the officers that live and work with them. Obviously I don't know anymore then what this article contains but I don't think anybody associated with the dog thought it expendable. Set aside the replacement cost of $10,000 I would think that they would have, at the least, tried to adopt her out if there was a chance of her living an active life.
By the way, according to multiple sources on the Internet the average life span for a German Shepherd is 12 - 14 years so although 8 years old is not real old it is in the upper numbers of a GS life span.
Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians. |
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silentTRobserver
Frequent Poster
763 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2009 : 8:57:44 PM
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| Fabius Township had a dog a few years back. What a costly undertaking. They hardly got a couple of years work out of the dog, after thousands of dollars invested, and then the handler took off and they gave the darn dog to him, FREE! Much better to occasionally hire a dog from a reputable company than for taxpayers to keep taking on this kind of expense just to massage police egos. |
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Stillwaters
Advocate
USA
487 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2009 : 9:15:42 PM
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My heart goes out to Matt. I have a German Shepherd and I would be beyond devastated if he were to go. Police dogs are dedicated officers and they are an important part of any police force.
"I never consider a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." - Thomas Jefferson
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Buck
Forum Admin
USA
5724 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2009 : 9:52:32 PM
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For the record the article states that the city is looking for private donations and not public monies. I am 100% in support of that.
Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians. |
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TR transplant
Active Poster
198 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 07:51:32 AM
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| it should be noted that the city had this dog essentially given to them for free. officer stark paid for the dog and the training on his own, the city only had to provide the liability insurance. |
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kyhun
Newbie
19 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 12:05:41 PM
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| Ben Rothlisberger of the Pittsburg Steelers has a foundation for just this topic. Grants can be applied for to receive money for k-9's. The link is www.bigben7.com/foundation. |
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kyhun
Newbie
19 Posts |
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Lockport
Frequent Poster
345 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 12:24:08 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by silentTRobserver
Fabius Township had a dog a few years back. What a costly undertaking. They hardly got a couple of years work out of the dog, after thousands of dollars invested, and then the handler took off and they gave the darn dog to him, FREE! Much better to occasionally hire a dog from a reputable company than for taxpayers to keep taking on this kind of expense just to massage police egos.
Usually, dogs are trained and matched to a specific handler, although sometimes the dog can be matched to a new person, as is the case with the other TRPD K-9, Bedo. A K-9 is far from an ego thing. Suspects probably respect the K-9 more than a Taser, and the mention of sending out the K-9 has often resulted in a surrender. I have had the experience of watching K-9 training and it is amazing to see the dedication and expertise of the dogs and handlers. They develop a very close bond.
Matt and his family are devastated at this loss. The illness was discovered very recently, and a treatment was tried, although the vet felt it would not be successful, and it was not. She had to be put down as she was so sick and had to be uncomfortable.
It is our duty as humans to make sure animals do not suffer as animals cannot understand why they are in pain. It is a heart-wrenching decision to put an animal down, and had to be especially hard for Matt when he knows Anjia may have kept him from being injured on many occasions.
And yes, when K-9s are retired they frequently live out their retirement with their handlers, the person they know best. I don't see a problem with that.
If anyone who cares about this issue would send $10 or $20 to TRPD, the money could be raised very quickly, and Matt could soon have a new partner. |
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Buck
Forum Admin
USA
5724 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 1:01:35 PM
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Lockport thank you for posting that. I wanted to say something more about it but I was having trouble putting my thoughts into (the right) words.
Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians. |
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Balk Committee Mbr
Frequent Poster
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 5:15:56 PM
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Matt Stark is an AMAZING police officer and my heart goes out to Matt and his entire family at this time. What a sad loss....
Still a Fan of Sheriff Brad Balk :) |
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silentTRobserver
Frequent Poster
763 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 6:05:22 PM
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| Wasn't dissing the officer whose dog died - understand the loss of an animal which is a part of the family BUT do wonder why we need 'extras' during a time of financial shortfalls. |
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Lockport
Frequent Poster
345 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 8:05:27 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by silentTRobserver
Wasn't dissing the officer whose dog died - understand the loss of an animal which is a part of the family BUT do wonder why we need 'extras' during a time of financial shortfalls.
I am sure you were not criticizing the department, but I must say: if a police dog is an "extra" so are the cars, laptops, vests and guns. And a feature of police dogs and other working dogs: They rarely call in sick, don't get benefits (life and health insurance, 401(K), etc), don't need hardly any equipment, to name a few things. You put a dog on the street for an initial one-time cost of $8000-$10,000 and annual costs of a few thousand (or less). A human officer probably runs about $50,000 or more per year--every year. A K-9 can be nearly as valuable as another human officer many times for substantially less money. I hope the community will step up, those who can, to make another K-9 a reality very soon. |
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EllenJ
Active Poster
USA
197 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 07:57:02 AM
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Lockport...you may have unintentionally reinforced the reasons for my initial questions (which were not intended to indicate in any way, shape or form any negative implications with respect to this particular dog's previous police companion).
But again are police dogs "viewed" more than not by the agency (which has guardianship over them)far more as an inanimate object when it comes to the "bottom line" or are they considered far more as a real member of the police force i.e. as a living/breathing/feeling being?
I think the reason my initial questions were generated was because of what I indirectly inferred/perceived/detected when reading (perhaps between the lines) the initial announcement/statement regarding Anjia's death which was issued by the prosecutor. |
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trhunter
Active Poster
USA
209 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 12:34:09 PM
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Just my two cents, from someone who has seen Bedo and Anjia work.
For the people who live and work in Three Rivers and the surrounding areas there was a K9 on duty every night. For anyone who has never needed their services that doesn't mean much.
For someone who has, it means a world of difference. It means if you came home to someone in your house or business who fled the scene it was only a couple of minutes before a K9 was on scene to do a track. If your business alarm went off, a K9 was on duty to check the building for a bad guy who could be hiding inside. If your child wandered away, there was a K9 there to do a track to find the kid. For the officer on the street, there was always a K9 on duty at night to do a track for you or search a car for narcotics.
And for the handlers and the officers who work with them, they are definitely more than inanimate objects.
People sleep peacably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
- George Orwell |
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Three Rivers Police need $ to replace K9 Officer
