[ad_1]
Police dogs “will do anything for their handler,” the police union chief said after a dog was shot near Dargaville in Northland.
The dog, who has not been identified in the media by police, was allegedly shot by a man who was wanted on firearms and cannabis charges.
The police then shot the man three times. He and the dog were both flown to Auckland for medical treatment and were in stable condition Tuesday afternoon.
Police Association President Chris Cahill said police dogs are a key part of the team and are treated, to some extent, like another officer.
READ MORE:
* Veteran Wellington Police Dog and TV Star Hades Dies
* Police cub Kazza, named for his murdered uncle Gazza, has died
* Police dog handler Gazza opens up about the moment his best friend died
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
The police dog who was shot on Tuesday was taken to the Veterinary Specialist Group on the Auckland Unitec campus for treatment.
He said it affects everyone in the police force when a dog is injured or killed.
“They are like one of us.”
They are working dogs and not pets, but the bond they share with their caretakers is one of “incredible love,” Cahill said.
They put their lives at risk on a daily basis and are “in the forefront of danger,” he said.
“Unfortunately, due to the nature of their role, they will be exposed to dangerous situations.
Gazza was the most recent police dog to die in the line of duty.
“They will do anything for their handler. They are incredibly loyal. “
A total of 24 police dogs have died in the line of duty since 1972, four in the 2000s alone.
The most recent was Gazza, who was shot and killed during an armed incident in Porirua in 2016. The year before, he had survived the strangulation of a robber.
Gazza, 4, was buried in a private funeral, draped in a New Zealand flag.
New Zealand Police / Supplied
Gazza pictured with her manager, Josh Robertson.
In 2010, Christchurch police dog Gage was killed when he jumped in front of a bullet destined for his handler.
In 2013, he was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal, which honors outstanding animal bravery or exceptional devotion to duty.
Enzo, the three-year-old police dog, died in 2009 after being drowned by Tairyn Murphy, a worker who had been wanted on charges of family violence.
New Zealand Police / Supplied
Police dog Gage was shot and killed in the line of duty in Christchurch in 2010.
Murphy was convicted of killing a police dog without a legal excuse.
Cahill said a service is always performed when a police dog dies. Its size depends on the wishes of the handler.
Anyone who injures or kills a police dog can face two years in prison or a maximum fine of $ 15,000.
NZ POLICE
Caesar, the police dog and handler with Officer Josh Van Der Kwaak, won a police award after Caesar recovered from the stabbing.
In a survival story, Northland police dog Caesar was stabbed twice in the head while trying to detain a man in December 2018.
However, he made a full recovery and won a prestigious national award with his manager, Agent Josh Van Der Kwaak.
Adam Tipene, 32, was sentenced to five years and three months in jail for burglary with burglary and stabbing of Cesar.
