Missing NOPD K-9

[E's]

June 27, 2005

Alert **** Alert **** Alert

MISSING POLICE DOG



New Orleans, LA New Orleans Police are asking for the public's help in locating a police dog that somehow escaped from his handler's home on Sunday, June 26, 2005, in the area of Athis and Music, in Gentilly.



According to officers in the Canine Division, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Sunday, a family member of the K-9 officer noticed that the dog's kennel door was open and the dog was not there. The officer was working a private security detail and the family member assumed the dog was with the officer. When the officer returned home late last night he was unable to locate his K-9 partner.



The dog is a Belgium Malinois (pronounced Mal-en-wa) whose name is "Carlos". Carlos is black and tan, weighs approximately 75 pounds and is 5 years old. Canine officers have been and are still searching the area but have not located him. Carlos, trained in both narcotics detection and criminal apprehension, is somewhat docile but can become aggressive.



Anyone spotting the missing canine should dial 911 immediately. How the dog actually got out of his kennel is under investigation. A photograph of the missing canine has been e-mailed to local media outlets.


Sergeant Paul J. Accardo


Asst. Cmdr., NOPD Public Affairs

[E's]

Well, more doggie good news! The crimewatch chairperson at our civic improvement association just forwarded this email. I was very concerned about Carlos, because there are always people who resent anything connected with police, especially K-9 units.

Tuesday 28 June 2005

MISSING POLICE CANINE FOUND
 
            New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Police Superintendent Edwin P. Compass, III is pleased to announce that “Carlos”, the police dog that went missing on Sunday, June 26, 2005, has been located and is in good health. 
 
            According to the Canine Unit, this morning, members of the Louisiana SPCA notified the New Orleans Police Department that a dog resembling “Carlos” was at the shelter and had been picked up as a stray.  Canine officers rushed to the shelter where they confirmed that the dog at the shelter was indeed the NOPD’s missing member.  He appeared in good health, and was reunited with his partner / handler, and has gone back to work. 
 
            The department wishes to thank Laura Maloney, Executive Director of the LA-SPCA, and her staff for returning this valuable member of the department.    
 
###
 
Sgt. Paul J. Accardo
Asst. Cmdr., NOPD Public Affairs

[Ash]

That's good news!

[Cleo]

Good news and a happy ending indeed!

I know pets can be microchipped for i.d. purposes but that only works if they are scanned. Is there an animal GPS tracking system I wonder ??

[E's]

Cleo writes:

I know pets can be microchipped for i.d. purposes but that only works if they are scanned. Is there an animal GPS tracking system I wonder ??

IMO a relevant question indeed. I am almost positive that we have such a system in place, but would like to make sure. The veterinary hospital that takes care of my pets is just a few blocks from NOPD headquarters for Mounted and K-9 departments located on the edge of City Park, so this is the vet hospital most often consulted by NOPD equine and canine handlers - and microchipping is strongly advised there (`Eowyn was microchipped when she was very young.) Since both NOPD and the veterinary facility are in frequent contact with LA SPCA (as N.O.'s animal control dept. is called - it is located some 3 miles away on the same side of the River as we are) one could almost assume, as I say, that the modern tracking system is in use. Except that this IS the Big Easy, where we can spend beaucoup million $ to pay off the selfish, whining owner of a lousy football team and leave the humane society chronically under-funded and under-staffed...

Sorry for the rant, but it does bring to mind another reason besides a love of animals for being concerned when something happens to a K-9: These dogs cost upwards of $5,000 to start with, not counting money and manhours spent on their training and maintenance. Yet we depended on a little girl - I think she was 10 or 11 at the time - to get up a publicity campaign for donations to provide bullet-proof vests for PART of the K-9 Corps animals...

OK, off the soap box now - but I betcha NOLA aint the only urban area where the above happens

[CrystalsMom]

Good to hear! That must've been one happy dog.

[Tambrey]

Good to hear he is found and in good health!

Speaking of Police K-9's...our town is looking to adopt out the one we have....AARGGGGGHHHH...after soending thousands of dollars for training and all that...his handler was stopped and arrested for drunk driving, can you believe that?!?!...so of course he was immediately off of the force, and they are saying that once a dog is trained for one handler, he will not respond to any others, so needs to be retired and put into a good permanent family home...

If I did not have two big dogs already....Jake is a awesome dog, and I know he would be a good protector