Retired Police dog Cane, hailed as a hero after being seriously injured while tracking and apprehending a burglary suspect last year, died yesterday. His owner, Sergeant Jason Owen said Cane was quite unwell on waking in the morning and died before he could get him to a vet. He was 8 and ½ years old. Sergeant Owen said. "He was my best mate and will be sorely missed."
Cane came to national attention in July 2007, when he tracked an offender about 5km through bush near Murupara, Bay of Plenty and continued to hold onto him after being repeatedly stabbed. Sergeant Owen and Cane were a champion team, having won the National Police Dog Championships in 2005. At the time of the stabbing, Sergeant Owen had begun training a replacement puppy, and although Cane recovered well from surgery, he retired early after having served more than six years as a police dog.
Sergeant Owen recently transferred to the NZ Police Dog Training Centre in Trentham, Wellington as an instructor.
Contact: Katrina Graham, Communications Advisor, NZ Police Training Service Centre, 04238 3572 or 027 441 9216.
ENDS