Monument honouring police dogs is unveiled
By Scott Woodhouse - Express Staff

Recently Fields and his German Shepherd Rocky saved a young man's life.

"Two months ago we tracked a young man who was despondent and suicidal through the deep bush outside of Timmins," said Fields. "We managed to catch up with him and save his life."

"It was the highlight of my career so far," he said.

Fields and Rocky were just one of 20 police canine units that attended the official unveiling of the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society's canine monument paying tribute to police dogs.

Close to 300 people attended the ceremony in Beautiful Joe Park on Friday morning, including more than 100 school children from Meaford Community School and St. Vincent Euphrasia Elementary School.

Gunter Neumann, President of the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society, said the ceremony was all about recognizing the "outstanding interaction between humans and animals" exemplified by Margaret Marshall Saunders and the police canine units.

"With this monument, we are recognizing and celebrating the outstanding interaction between humans and animals - in this instance, the care, commitment and devotion which police officers put forth when interacting with their loyal canines," said Neumann.

"Today, we are here to focus on the outstanding interaction between police officers and their four-legged companions," he said. "Today we honour K-9 Police Units; we salute them, here and around the world."

Prior to the ceremony, the Georgian Bay Secondary School Band provided musical entertainment, followed by the OPP Commissioner's Own Pipes and Drums. Students from the two elementary schools read essays on the humane treatment of animals and the important jobs that working dogs do to help their human masters.

After these excellent presentations, the highlight of the ceremony, the honour guard of 20 police dogs and their handlers paraded to either side of the monument, which was covered by a Canadian flag.

Students Nicole Lye, Maryann Wark, Alana DeCoste and Elana Miller then pulled away the flag, revealing the black granite monument "recognizing the dedication and courage demonstrated internationally by police canine units."

Grey County OPP Insp. Art Goard shared with the audience one story of a police dog's heroics.

Goard said the most famous police dog in the OPP was Cloud Two, a German Shepherd who was partnered with Constable Ray Carson and throughout his career captured 123 fugitives.

On August 7, 1975, a prisoner awaiting trial for murder, assaulted a guard, stole a gun and a car and escaped from North Bay Jail.

The suspect managed to elude a large manhunt, until on the 11th day Cloud II picked up his scent. Cloud II and Constable Carson located and cornered the desparate escaped con.

"In the ensuing gun battle, Cloud Two was slain," said Goard. "He was a hero."

Goard also noted that as well as catching dangerous criminals and sniffing out narcotics, police dogs also save many lives, finding lost children and hunters.

"This is truly an excellent and fitting tribute to honour police dogs and their handlers," he said.