APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Lots of support and well wishes for Green Bay Police K-9 Pyro are continuing to come in from all over the area.
Appleton Police Chief Todd Thomas says they are very close to the Green Bay Police K-9’s.
“Our K-9 handlers train with their handlers monthly.”
He says because of that, the Appleton K-9 team knows Pyro by name and has seen him often.
Thomas says the news of Pyro is tough to hear and like officers, dogs can also be in harmful situations when called out on the scene, and their activity while on the job can have long term effects.
He says they took that into account in Appleton with a decision that they made for their department.
“We have a health insurance plan for the dogs to take care of them after they retire and they are just pets for their handlers.”
He says the news of Pyro won’t keep Appleton Police from using K9’s when needed on their call but serves as a sobering reminder that officers always have to expect the unexpected and prepare the best they can.
He says situations like this always allow for opportunities to look into seeing what more can be done to protect dogs during criminal activity which they have done before.
“We have bulletproof vests that they can wear and we tested those and found out it could slow the dog down and it may be more dangerous for them to have that.”
Thomas says in this case, the danger came from a stab wound which the vest may not have helped.
Pyro spent his time getting treated in Appleton after the weekend incident.
“The Animal Referal Center out here is great and we have used it before when our animals get hurt.”
He said in most cases, once a dog has a suspect down and locks on, it is hard for the suspect to be able to do anything physical, but every situation is unique.
