Retired K9 Spared From Likely Death After Community Rallies To Save Him
Let's hope Rex gets the retirement he deserves.
Posted: 09/24/2015 04:54 PM EDT | Edited: 09/25/2015 09:35 AM EDT
The
9-year-old Belgian Malinois, Rex, had served with the Albuquerque
Police Department since 2013, and spent several years in the military
before that, the Albuquerque Journal reports. Rex
was present during the shooting of homeless man James Boyd that led to
criminal charges for two APD officers, and appears in video of the
incident.
When Rex’s handler, Scott Weimersckirch, retired, the APD said Rex was too old and too bonded to Weimersckirch to be transferred to another handler. But the officer couldn't adopt Rex due to concerns that the dog would be a threat to his young child, APD spokeswoman Celina Espinoza told local news station KRQE.
A city shelter took Rex in, but the APD said Monday it was likely the dog would be euthanized, since his military and police background would make finding a suitable home difficult.
When Rex’s handler, Scott Weimersckirch, retired, the APD said Rex was too old and too bonded to Weimersckirch to be transferred to another handler. But the officer couldn't adopt Rex due to concerns that the dog would be a threat to his young child, APD spokeswoman Celina Espinoza told local news station KRQE.
A city shelter took Rex in, but the APD said Monday it was likely the dog would be euthanized, since his military and police background would make finding a suitable home difficult.
