Reply #34: I am not without compassion for what the officer is going through. [View All]

[Pool Hall Ace]

Back in 2001, I was my mother's primary caregiver when she was dying of cancer. I was also holding down a full-time job, and I also had a dog. I was able to compartmentalize and tend to work responsibilities, take my mother to chemo and radiation treatments (and even transport her for a few ER visits), visit her while she was in the hospital, run the household, and yes . . . care for the dog.

In fact, I still have that dog. He's on the chair next to me, snoozing peacefully.

The point is that dogs are family members. A police dog is not only part of the family, but a highly-trained partner.

If the officer cannot remember to entrust the care of that highly-trained partner while he tends to a family emergency, he has no business being part of the canine unit.