For the Love of a K-9

Throughout history there have been countless stories about the bond between man and dog. Some of these stories have been told in novel form, while others have found their way onto television. Some have even fascinated thousands through the big screen movies produced in Hollywood. Our story, the story of the police K-9 team, is different. Our story does not have the mass-appeal of those tales. Not because the bond is less; it is in fact much stronger. The reason there are no tales like ours is because it would only be understood by those of us who live it. As dog handlers, we put on a pretty good façade. We talk about our partners as though they are just another tool that helps us get our job done. Deep inside each of us though, we know that our partners are much more. Until moments like these, we, ourselves underestimate the depths of our bonds. These dogs are not our pets, and they are so much more than our partners. They lead us through the night, eager to succeed. They ask for nothing in return except to be loved and fed by their human counterpart. Their only reward is seeing that what they have done has made us happy. They are incapable of understanding what they do for us as handlers, police departments and communities. They cannot understand how many lives they have saved or how many times they have saved their handler’s life. These amazing animals affect so many more people than just us handlers, though. They become cherished members of our families and they leave lasting impressions on every child they meet during a school demonstration. They even stand out in the minds of their veterinarian teams. As fellow police officers, they are called on to do things that are invaluable to patrol. They search for hidden drugs, conduct large building searches, and give their best effort to find every criminal who has momentarily evaded arrest. They do all of it with wagging tails and an eagerness that is unmatched by anyone. Heroism is defined as remarkable physical or moral courage. Check the thesaurus and you will find the words valor, bravery, fearlessness and gallantry. The police dog is all of that and more. Ask any K-9 handler if they have met a hero. Each of them will answer with one or more names. Among them are Rex, Hunter, Rosco, Woo, Ringo, Dax and others. Today, with great thanks for his loyalty and service, we add Miko to that honored list.