A few years ago in our local paper I read another dog obituary and thought it was pretty cool to care enough to tell the world how much you loved your dog. I gave it a passing thought for Thor (one day), but I dismissed it because I’m not about public displays and fanfare.

But after Thor died I received an unexpected tribute which made me realize that other people hold service dogs in very high esteem and that they would care to read his stories and steal a little bit of my love for Thor. (I give it willingly!)

What happened was that Cherished Pets Memorial Service refused payment for Thor’s cremation. (www.cherishedpetsmemorialservice.ca) Owner Paul Dupuis simply said that there was no charge for service dogs. In recognition of Thor's years of public service, it was Paul's privilege to perform this final act without charge. I was moved to tears (again) by this unexpected tribute and it made me realize that service dogs and their life stories never get old and they never have to die.

So this is his and my story. It’s a lot longer than I intended, but there’s a rich history here and I could have written so much more. I can’t begin to express how much I miss this very special dog, but as you read on I believe you will get an idea of what he meant to me and how very proud I am of this lifetime opportunity.

I was fascinated by tracks since I was a small boy. My family immigrated to Canada when I was six years old & our first home was a humble cottage on the Kingston Peninsula. Our riverside home was visited regularly by deer, bobcat, fox & crow, as evidenced by the tracks in the sand along the beach.


My fascination with tracks became an occupational obsession when, fast-forward 32 years, I became a K9 handler for the SJPF at the age of 38.  


I've always been a dog person; a family photo taken when I was about 12 has me sitting on the floor with my dog in a headlock while everyone else looks relatively normal.

Thor was an immigrant like me & he arrived in Saint John from Czechoslovakia by way of Toronto as a gangly young dog but after having travelled so far and without any meaningful contact for several months, he was aloof and uninterested for his first few weeks. Part of this can be attributed to German shepherd breed characteristics, especially those from working dog lineage. Thor was generally a serious dog but he learned how to relax as his experience and confidence grew.


It was readily apparent how handsome he would be when he filled out. He was big, dark, long and lean and elicited the same response wherever he went – “What a handsome dog!” or some such variant. Thor took it all in stride, possibly because he couldn’t speak much English.

Thor took to Basic Police Canine Training like he’d been bred for it! I was always in awe of his abilities at article searches and tracking. I never lost that sense of amazement and it was the strength of our bond; my confidence and respect for his abilities.

Thor graduated from Basic Police Canine Training and began street patrols in November of 1999. His career ended officially in 2007 but he didn't work full time after June of 2006. His 6 years of service was a little shorter than the average of 7, but he had already had back surgery and the effects of getting in and out of his patrol car 20, 30, 40 times a shift were beginning to show.

It was an incredibly difficult decision to make to retire Thor because it also meant the end of my career as a Canine Officer. Decisions beyond my control and best efforts had cut the Canine Unit from four teams down to two and Thor's retirement put me out of the unit.

Thor took astonishingly well to his retirement so it had clearly been the right decision whereas I found it horribly difficult to return to work without Thor's great head draped across my shoulders. He’d been my constant companion through hundreds and hundreds of patrol hours. When I reached for the radio mike, he was instantly up. If I was silly enough to use the lights and siren, Thor would do his best to drown out the siren with his barking. When we patrolled the uptown or North ends in the car, he was always up and watching through the front windshield to see what was going on. Anytime I got out to check something, I’d leave the window down so that if required, Thor could come to my assistance. It was difficult to go to work without him and all that he represented.

We packed in a great deal from 1999 to 2006. We worked the streets of Saint John primarily but also assisted the Rothesay Police, RCMP and Customs on occasions too numerous to count. I have a thousand stories and fond memories and I will share some with you if you care to read further. I have also added some notable events from Thor's Police career on the memories page if you would like to read more about our adventures.

This tribute has become longer and longer as I ponder another edit. But one story leads to another and another and one more after that. Great stories that will likely never be told again as the details fade and the significance drifts. I was so proud of my boy Thor and if you care to take the time to read on, I think you’ll see why.

Unlike the other dog handlers, I kept the gate open in our patrol car. This allowed Thor to stand on the centre console and stare out the front windshield or his favourite portion which was draped across my shoulders with his great giant head looking out the driver’s side window. We’d pull up beside folks at a traffic light and all they could see was Thor’s massive head. It never failed to elicit a response.

This section of Thor's life story is devoted to just that - his life. His Police career was his work & those stories are found in the memories section. He was much more to me than just a working Police dog & his life was rich. When Thor came into my life in 1999, there were already three other dogs in the pack. He was going to have to fit in or spend his life on the outside watching. Although Thor got along fine with Rumour, Sarah & Shelby, Foster was a bit of an issue to say the least.

I could certainly tell more stories about work (read them on the memories page), but Thor wasn’t just about work. He was all about being at home as well with the same level of dedication and enjoyment. Without fail, as we drove up the driveway after work, he barked the whole way as if to celebrate and announce his homecoming. Of course it could also have to do with warning the resident black Lab, Foster, that he was approaching. If there was a dark cloud in Thor’s history, it would have to be Foster.

Thor never liked Foster. Ever. On his final day on this earth, Thor barked at Foster and snapped “air bites” at him if he came too close. It was as if he was adhering to a prime directive – Harass the Foster dog at every opportunity. In the early days there were a few dustups and a few patches of fur possibly ended up in Thor's mouth. This resulted in quarantine for Thor for a considerable period (months actually) where he was restricted to certain areas of the house, but eventually this grew tiresome. At the time, Thor was dog #4 in the pack and having to keep him separate was annoying and time consuming.

So, taking a page from Cesar Milan, I decided that enough was enough and Thor was going to be a part of the pack and that was all there was to it. Remarkably, that whole change in attitude was all it took. Thor changed from active aggression to passive dislike. Foster was a typical Lab and that helped. His attitude was “yeah, big tough police dog – whatever” and he’d carry on his merry way. Thor never missed an opportunity to block Fosters way to make him walk around, or to throw a shoulder block at him when they were all outside together. They acted for all the world like siblings who were always picking at each other. But yet they would share a bed in the kitchen & even nap together occasionally but they never needed to be segregated again.

Thor got along well with all the other dogs, there was just something about Foster. Our home has become a shelter of last resort over the years for a number of dogs and Thor accepted the new arrivals without issue. Ben, an epileptic Rottweiler was perhaps Thor’s favourite. A few days after Ben arrived, the dogs were all sprawled about in the kitchen. Thor who always had a nylon bone or rubber kong nearby, got up and went to get his bone. What he did next was beyond belief. If I hadn’t seen it myself I would say it was a fabrication. He brought his bone back and walked over to Ben and literally gave it to him. Ben was very polite and perhaps nervous, but he took the offered gift and Thor went back to his own bed with his kong.

Ben suffered many, many seizures over the years & it scared the other dogs, especially Henrietta, our highstrung little Shepherd but Thor was always nearby to see Ben through.  He would hover close while Ben was tended to & didn't leave until Ben was up & about again.

In the picture gallery accompanying this memorial, you will see pictures of Thor curled up with all of the other dogs at one time or another.- even Foster!  These aren't posed pictures, this is how the dogs hung out together - their choice!   Thor, the big vicious Police Dog exposed as the softie that he really was!

Life at home for Thor was idyllic. At one point, there were 5 other dogs besides him and there were long hikes together, plenty of ball chasing and lazing about under the trees. About as good a life a dog can have. Just like it was part of the plan. And it was.

The bond that Thor & I enjoyed at work was of course equally strong at home.  Wherever I went, he followed - even if I was only going to the bathroom.  Of course, if Thor was on the move it caused a ripple effect & there was no point in closing the bathroom door because Shelby, Sarah, Ben & Henrietta & sometimes Bandit would be tagging along.

If I left the kitchen to go to another room & then suddenly turned back  for something I forgot, it would cause a canine pileup.   Remember of course that these are all big dogs.  Such fun!

I remember mowing the lawn when Thor was young & he was so attached to me that he literally followed along behind the lawnmower up & down each & every row.  It took him a couple of mowing seasons before he realized that he could actually just lay under a tree & still keep tabs on me.

In spite of that lightbulb moment (for him), he was never far from my side, or more correctly my behind.  He was always just behind me & for such a big dog, he was easy to miss.  I can't recall how many times I would look for Thor & completely turn around 360 degrees without seeing him.  Then when I called his name, he'd step out from behind me.  I think it was just a game for him.

As worried as I was that he would wander off, it simply never happened.  The only time he left my side or was out of sight was when he was directed to by me for work or training.  He knew the difference.  All of our dogs have been like that.  We would go for two hour hikes in the woods without a single leash among them & always returned with the same number.

Dogs have always been a significant part of my life. Six large breed dogs at one time is a significant commitment. Add in the fact that several dogs had special needs – 2 epileptics, 1 with serious liver function impairment and another with severe allergies and the level of commitment rises exponentially. Thor’s health issues over the years were blended in with everyone else’s as just part of the scenery.


Throughout his working career and into his retirement, Thor dodged numerous health issues any one of which has claimed many dogs. Dr. Cathy Adams at Fairvale Animal Hospital cared for him during his active life and Dr. Adrian Tompkins at Fundy Animal Hospital took over in Thor’s later years. Veterinary Technicians, the “nurses” at both clinics, babied Thor at every opportunity. During his numerous visits to the University of Prince Edward Island Vet Clinic, Dr. Carolyn Runyon remarked many times that Thor was “the nicest Police Dog” she had ever treated. High praise indeed from a very well respected Vet who at one time or another has actually seen most of the Police Dogs in Atlantic Canada.

Thor had two surgeries on his lumbar sacral region, one of which removed crushed discs and the other to actually fuse the area. Emergency surgeries included stomach bloat and a spleenic torsion, either of which has a very high mortality rate. But Thor seemed to take everything in stride with no sign of undue stress or discomfort. When he was in recovery after back surgery in PEI, the intern doctor assigned to his care actually slept with him throughout his first post op night. That’s the kind of dog he was, not just eye candy, he was the real deal – people wanted to be around him.

As much as I love all of our dogs equally, I knew that Thor's death would strike me deeper than any of the others. Our shared experiences at work set him apart from the others even though I cherish each of them. When Thor retired officially and I was no longer a member of the Canine Unit, going back to work in regular uniform without him took a huge toll. In some ways it was like he’d died – I missed him that much. So it was sort of like preparation for the day when he was gone forever and it hurt like hell. Just like I knew it would.

Thor did live the long, relatively healthy retirement that I promised him early in his career. The bond between us never faltered or wavered, but there were a number of phases of withdrawal which to me were all like rehearsals for the day when he was gone forever.

As his age progressed, his athletic abilities declined and his weaknesses advanced. Our walks along our woodlot trails became much slower and then they became shorter. None of this was lost on me as I slowed my pace to match my old partner. It was hard not to be sad knowing the inevitability of it all.

Soon I had to leave Thor behind when the rest of us went for a hike. But he never seemed upset or distressed, he accepted it. Upon our return, he’d be waiting ,alert but relaxed, no sign of the distress that gripped me every time I left him behind. I wish I could have taken a page from his book, but I was feeling the pain of his loss already.

To assist Thor with his lumbar sacral & degenerative issues in his later years, he was fitted with a BIKO brace which was nothing more than elastic straps which attached to his rear feet at the ankles & then to a harness at his shoulders.  As he walked & his back legs extended, the elastic gently stretched & when he picked up the rear foot the elastic tension pulled his back foot forward in a natural arc.  I hated the idea of my boy becoming 'disabled', but the brace was elegant in it's simplicity & it worked amazingly well.  Thor had always worn a harness at work, so this was just another harness to him & it afforded him greater mobility than his wobbly back end offered by itself.

Even though he couldn’t get around very well, Thor was never in any pain and his daily life included ball chasing (short chases!), drives in the car, plenty of outdoor fresh air and of course Foster bashing whenever possible. At feeding time, Thor was the only one who came into the pantry with me to serve up the food. It was always an opportunity to round up a stray kibble as well as have his ears rubbed a bit.

Then one day he didn’t follow me into the pantry. He just lay on his kitchen bed watching. I peeked around the corner of the door several times but didn’t call him to me. He knew the routine, it was his decision. When I took their bowls to the kitchen, he came over to me with the others as normal, but it was one more sign and the significance wasn’t lost on me.

It was by no means the last time he came into the pantry, but he was preparing me for the time to come. His pantry visits became less frequent until they ceased completely although he was always waiting on his mat bright eyed and alert ready to eat.

In December of 2010 when Thor became noticeably weak in a short time, we ended up with a referral to UPEI once again. Tests revealed that he had cancer in his blood and he was spiralling downhill rapidly. He received 2 blood transfusions the day after he arrived; they were his only hope of seeing another day. In spite of the bleak outlook, the Vets wanted to keep him, do more tests and try to treat him there, but there was no way that my boy was going to die in a hospital surrounded by strangers however well meaning they were.

The trip to pick him up was funereal. I wept when he was brought to the reception room whereas he was his usual nonchalant self. “Oh you’re here to pick me up? Good, lets go. You didn’t bring Foster did you?” Dogs are all about NOW. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, just right now. I’ve often lamented the human inability to embrace the concept more than we do.

Having Thor back after only a 3 day absence was a huge gift in light of the circumstances. But I knew he was slipping away still. He was weak but still bright although we were told that we couldn’t expect much; he was very sick.

But Thor was all about defying the odds and finding hope where none existed. Dr. Tompkins and his team of technicians including Thor's palliative care nurse Bonnie found innovative ways to combine medicine and naturopathic remedies that allowed Thor to rebound beyond the realm of possibilities. In spite of being very sick, Thor was engaged and alert and his spirit remained strong.

There was still hope and Thor didn’t disappoint. In a short time he was back on his feet and able to go for short hikes with the others. It was good to have my boy back, but the shadows were getting longer.

So the natural withdrawal of Thor's activities and abilities were harbingers of the pain that his death would bring. Palliative care is a bittersweet exercise and I was keenly aware of the impact of his loss. I already missed my boy even though he was still here with me.

His final day was as it should be. Had we known it was his final day perhaps we would have thrown in an ice cream, but other than that it was a real dogs day. We spent the day outside gardening and hanging out. All the dogs had balls to chase and chew, the sun was shining and it really was good to be alive. Thor, like the rest of us, soaked up the atmosphere. That evening, he ate his supper with gusto, just like always.

He was restless through the night a few times and Bonnie sensed that the end was near. As with many seniors, inactivity and medications can cause a build-up of fluid causing pneumonia that cannot be treated and must run its course.

Sometime between 4:30 and 6:00am on Monday, June 13^th, Thor simply stopped breathing. No drama, no pain, he just finished slipping away. He died at my side in a place of comfort and love, I couldn’t have written a better ending for my treasured friend.