 This
Memorial Page has been set up to allow our clients to honor
the memory of their pet who has passed on. Feel free to submit
stories, poems and photos about your beloved pet to
DrShuf@aol.com.
Please send photos in .jpg format. Send text in ms word documents
or .html format. Documents can have text and photos embedded.
Please be sure to include the following in your postings:
- Your Name
- Pet's Name
- Breed
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- Date of Passing
ARPH reserves the right to refuse any postings
due to inappropriate content.
ACCELERANT DETECTION K9 GATOR
Rancho Cucamonga Fire District
September 8, 1995 – November 21, 2009
Loved by Susan De Antonio
 K9
Gator was the 2nd Accelerant Detection K9 employed by the
fire district. He was a career change pup from Guide Dogs of America.
His career began in 1998 as a ‘rookie’, shadowing K9 Newby at hot fire
scenes for a year. He promoted to primary K9 fire investigator October
1999. Gator’s job was to find evidence of ignitable/flammable liquid
residue at fire scenes. Gator was recognized as an expert by Judge
McCarville, who allowed him to ‘testify’ by conducting a demonstration
for the jury in a $1.3 million dollar church arson. He even picked out
the arsonist from a suspect lineup in the jail more than 12 hours after
the fire! The convicted arsonist was sent to prison.
K9 Gator was the 1st
California Arson K9 to be certified in accelerant detection by the New
York State K9 Academy and also by the North American Police Work Dog
Association. Both organizations required Gator to demonstrate
proficiency in structure fire scenes, burned vehicles, clothing/article
lineups, evidence can lineups and open field/meadow searches. Gator had
to identify a minimum of 18 substances ranging from diesel fuel to
acetone with no less than 91.6% accuracy. He never failed to certify.
K9 Gator received a letter of
appreciation from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office
praising him for his help in closing a complicated 2003 case of
insurance fraud against a prominent dentist. WeTIP Anonymous honored
Gator as their 2003 Arson Investigator of the Year. The highlight of
Gator’s career was being honored by the California Veterinary Medical
Association as their 2004 Animal Hero of the Year. They recognized the
human-animal bond that formed between those of us so fortunate to have a
faithful animal partner.
Gator took the job of Field Training
Officer (FTO) and successfully trained K9 Denali as his successor.
Gator’s job performance was exemplary – above expectation in every
regard. He worked in high heat conditions, on broken glass, around dead
bodies and never quit. He always did what I asked of him. He protected
my car, my valuables and my personal safety without fail for the entire
9 years he was in the field. I never had to worry about my belongings
or safety when I was out late on fire lane patrols or bar checks.
K9 Gator retired June 1, 2007 after 9
years of faithful service. He investigated approximately 100 fires in
Rancho Cucamonga and assisted the cities of Escondido, Chino, Hemet,
Montclair, Ontario, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside,
San Bernardino, Upland, Victorville and San Bernardino County with arson
investigations. The losses he sniffed totaled more than $14 million
dollars.
K9 Gator spent the last 2 years enjoying
Idyllwild on weekends. He is survived by his yellow lab girlfriend, Mee-Too,
K9 Denali, his Grandpa Klingler and his trainer/lifetime partner, Fire
Investigator, K9 Handler Susan De Antonio (Ret.) A memorial
service was held for Gator in January at the Rancho Cucamonga Fire
Station and was covered on FDNN TV.
Click on this link to see the TV coverage about
Gator
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