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Special dogs at rest at last

By TERRI BRYCE REEVES
Published February 21, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Jim Damaske] Frank Campbell, a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy and dog trainer, looks over the site Tuesday where 12 of the dogs he has trained are buried at the Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Pet Cemetery.

PALM HARBOR - They were intelligent, courageous and possessed a strong work ethic. They protected us from the bad guys and searched for our lost loved ones.

One once wore makeup and beads to work, and another devoured two cooked chickens that were supposed to be a family's dinner.

They were Pinellas County Sheriff's Office police dogs that served the citizens of this county between 1986 and 2005.

On Tuesday, the 12 retired dogs were eulogized during a memorial service at the Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Pet Cemetery. Their remains will rest forever under granite grave markers, surrounded by oaks, roses and azaleas.

On this afternoon, each handler remembered his dog or dogs, the good times and the good catches.

Sgt. Clay Littlejohn spoke of Samson, a donated dog who came with a floppy ear and one leg that "turned a bit sideways."

But Samson became a "great police dog with a great disposition" and caught a lot of criminals, Littlejohn said. Since Samson's death in 2002, the dog's cremated remains have sat by his bedside.

"I was never sure what I wanted to do (with the ashes)," Littlejohn said. "These dogs worked so hard. They deserved something a little special."

Then he heard about the opportunity for the sheriff's canines to be buried in the pet cemetery, and he knew it was the answer.

Sgt. Clark Wagner, supervisor of the sheriff's canine unit, said he approached Curlew Gardens about obtaining markers for deceased dogs. That is when he learned about the new pet cemetery and a special Heroes Garden for service animals. There would be no cost to the department or the handlers - the space, markers and perpetual care would be free.

"These animals perform this public service, and, unfortunately, they have no retirement benefits. It's just the right thing to do, for the animals and for the officers that do this work every day," said Keenan Knopke, president of Curlew Hills.

The pet cemetery, over a half acre, opened last August. Knopke said the retail value for each dog's grave is about $2,000, and the Heroes Garden will be open to future canines, as well as other service dogs.

Wagner said, "There was no better job than working with these dogs."

He said each dog makes 20 to 30 catches each year of service, and most dogs average about six to eight years of service. The dogs are chosen for their "dual personalities" that allow them to be docile family members and strong, confident work dogs.

"When they start slowing down, showing aches and pains, it's time to let them relax at home," he said. Then they become the property of the handlers, who give them comfortable retirements. None of these dogs died in the line of duty.

During the service, the handlers talked about how their dogs led them to the bathrooms of fast food restaurants or into swamps to find murderers and burglars.

But not all of their actions were heroic.

Lt. Daryl Cooperrider, who handled a dog named Rex, remembered the time he left a chocolate silk pie on the console of his cruiser.

"Rex had a serious sweet tooth," he said. "I came back and the pie box was open. He had pie all over his face, looked guilty as sin, but had this big smile."

Deputy Patrick Shea had two dogs, Henke (pronounced Hank) and Aaron. He remembered how the neighbors wondered why he was always calling for a famous baseball player.

And Deputy Peter Eigo talked about the day he was in such a rush to get to work, he hadn't noticed that his 5-year-old daughter had put makeup, nail polish and beads on his dog, Major, until they arrived.

"But he could catch criminals," he said.

Along with the handlers were nine current canine companions.

One named Jester whined and cried throughout the hour-long ceremony.

So was he mourning his lost comrades?

"No," said his handler, Deputy Steve Elrod. "He just can't stand to sit still. He wants to get out and work."

[Last modified February 20, 2007, 20:48:56]