Police Service Dog 'Hrain' Reg#669

Vet of the Month - March, 2010

PSD 'Hrain', Reg.#669, RCMP - Killed in the line of duty July 22, 2006

Baltimore, New Brunswick

RCMP Corporal Pierre Gardner and his partner PSD 'Hrain', a three-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd Dog, had responded to a call about a twenty-five-year-old man, high on crystal meth, who had barricaded himself inside his house and was threatening to commit suicide.

Gardner and 'Hrain' made their way around to cover the back of the house, and as they reached the backyard, 'Hrain' indicated on a track. Gardner noticed fresh footprints leading from the house into woods.

The team followed the track for a bit, until Gardner began to sense that they were in danger. Although 'Hrain' was eager to continue, Gardner decided to stop and wait for backup. Placing 'Hrain' in a down, Gardner stood on the dog’s leash as he radioed for assistance. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the trees and 'Hrain' bolted, yanking his leash out from under Gardner’s boot. Gardner called for 'Hrain' to return, but the dog had disappeared into the forest. He heard a man shout somewhere in the woods - then an eerie silence.

When their backup arrived and searched the house, they found the suspect hiding inside, a fresh dog bite on his leg. With the suspect now securely in custody, the officers turned their attention to finding the missing police dog - but the forest was dense and 'Hrain' was nowhere to be found.

The next day, a search and rescue party was dispatched to comb the woods. At 2:00pm, they discovered 'Hrain’s' lifeless body, 150-feet from where his handler had stood calling for him. The post-mortem report concluded that the suspect had strangled 'Hrain' with his collar before beating him to death. It was later determined that the suspect had been waiting in the woods, armed with a rifle – perhaps waiting for someone to come after him.

'Hrain' was born in Europe on November 13, 2002 and graduated with Gardner on March 18, 2004. “...Hrain was a hunter, and his strength was that he loved finding people,” recalled Gardner, adding that he believes 'Hrain' instinctively sensed danger, and that his canine partner’s heroic actions ultimately saved his life.

Ironically, Gardner’s former canine partner, PSD 'Branko', was also killed in the line of duty by a suicidal man on September 30, 1997.

'Maintain Our Memories'

Permission received from:
Author: Natalie Ann Comeau: Toronto, ON
nacomeau@cogeco.ca

http://www.natalieanncomeau.ca/