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In the News: Tails of Marin

Protecting the dogs who protect Marin

By Carrie Harrington

The Marin Humane Society has proudly supported Marin County public service working dogs for 10 years through its K9 Care program. Since 1998, the program has offered assistance to local police, fire, search-and-rescue and coast guard agencies with routine veterinary care, emergency trauma care, specialist referrals, safety equipment and boarding for service dogs, all at no cost. Currently, 13 dogs are active in the program while 2 canines are in retirement.

K9 Care began when it was discovered that these hard-working service dogs had little or minimal medical benefits, and no retirement or pension plan as they grew older. Vet care and kenneling costs can sometimes place a financial drain on public service department budgets and the K9 Care Fund is designed to ease this burden.

Because the job can be both physically and mentally demanding, the average working dog’s career is only 5-8 years long. At the time of her retirement in 1998, Kilo, a Narcotic Detection Dog for the Marin County Major Crimes Task Force, had participated in more than 200 cases and was instrumental in the recovery of nearly $3,000,000. Kilo’s handler adopted her following her retirement and Kilo remained part of the K9 Care program until her death in 2004 at age 16.

When Marin County Fire Captain Jim Boggeri completed his training with the Search Dog Foundation in 2002, he found the perfect canine partner and lifelong companion in a handsome yellow lab named Recon. “Our personalities jibed,” recalls Jim. “I took one look at Recon and knew we were made for each other!” Jim and Recon’s primary assignment is with the Marin County Urban Search and Rescue Team. Jim and Recon went through extensive training to become a part of this elite group including aggression testing, obedience, agility, direction and control, bark alert and rubble pile search scenarios. In June of 2005, they became 1 of only 170 FEMA certified advanced search teams in the nation.

Recon was named for the nickname of the Fire Department of New York’s Ladder Company Number 3 in Manhattan, which lost 12 of its 14 firefighters on September 11. “That connection makes me feel that I am part of something so much bigger,” said Jim.

Over the past 6 years, Jim and Recon have been deployed to several disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and a Mill Valley mudslide in 2006. “On the job, Recon is totally committed, dedicated and driven to succeed. Off the job, he’s just a goofy lab with incredible spirit.”

When asked about the success of the program, MHS animal care director Kim Lanham-Snyder emphasizes a strong partnership between MHS and county agencies, along with the ability to “expect the unexpected.” Perhaps Storm’s story best illustrates why this is so important.

Storm, a former member of the Fairfax police K9 program, was hurt on the job several years ago. This two-year-old German Shepherd was seriously injured after she jumped 30 feet from a window and fell onto a metal grating during a training session on Alcatraz Island. Storm’s handler, Officer Chris Kaupe, called the Marin Humane Society from the scene and staff arranged for the dog to be taken to a local veterinary hospital for emergency orthopedic surgery to mend a severe leg fracture. After surgery, Storm was transferred to MHS for rehabilitation. Thankfully, Storm eventually went home with her handler for the remainder of her recovery. The K9 Care Fund picked up the cost of treating Storm’s injury, which was approximately $5,000. Like Storm, many of the dogs in the K9 Care program have mishaps during training or while working on the job. A simple cut pad or exposure to toxic substances can require immediate medical attention and MHS is prepared to respond to these types of situations 24/7.

Marin County’s working dogs need routine veterinary care and safety equipment (including pet oxygen masks) to keep them in top-notch condition. And like Storm, if a dog should require urgent medical attention, MHS will arrange immediate medical care. After all, these tail-wagging heroes put their lives on the line for us every day. Through the K9 Care program, the Marin Humane Society is committed to making their jobs easier – and safer.

Carrie Harrington is the communications manager at the Marin Humane Society.

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal