As narrated at the K-9 Memorial - SR/DR '99

Jonni Joyce, Speaker

"God summoned a beast from the field and he said, "Behold Man, created in my own image. Therefore, adore him. You shall protect him in the wilderness, shepherd his flocks, watch over his children, accompany him wherever he may go…even unto civilization. You shall be his companion, his ally, his slave." "To do these things" God said, "I endow you with these instincts uncommon to other beasts: Faithfulness, Devotion, and understanding surpassing those of man himself. Lest it impair your courage, you shall never foresee your death. Lest it impair your loyalty, you shall be blind to the faults of man. Lest it impair your understanding, you are denied the power of words. Let no fault of language cleave an accord beyond that of man with any other beast or even man with man. Speak to your master only with your mind and through your honest eyes. Walk by his side, sleep in his doorway, forage for him, ward off his enemies, carry his burdens, share his afflictions, love him and comfort him. And in return for this, man will fulfill your needs and wants which shall be only food, shelter, and affection. So be silent and be a friend to man. Guide him through the perils along the way to the land that I have promised him.

"This shall be your destiny and your immortality. So sayeth the Lord. And the dog heard and was content."" (Author Unknown )

It is with great honor and humility that I stand before you tonight. We are here, different people from all across the world, united in one mission….to honor our fallen heroes. I have promised that this will be a service of praise, uplifting and cheerful, a service that mirrors the lives of the K9 partners that have left this great world and are on their next new adventure. I could stand here tonight and talk about loss, and pain, and suffering and all of the tragedy that we have faced as the human partners in this process. But I will not. Because if I were a dog, I wouldn't even be thinking that way. You see, dogs don't think that way….they always think of the good, always joyful, always loyal, always putting a smile on our face. So tonight, as we reflect back on the times spent with these wonderful animals….we are going to remember the good times. Like the first time that little dog did a runaway and thought…HEY THIS IS NEAT! Or the first time they made a fool out of us, the handlers, which of course was so easy to do. And they were so good at it. Looking like they really didn't mean to, but we knew they did. And did you ever wonder what they were thinking at that time? Of course, they would never tell…just sitting there all smug with that dog grin on their face. Or how about the look of surprise the first time they fell out of the boat in water search. Or the excitement they had the first time they made a find. We remember the first look, the first kiss, the first game of fetch, the first find. The way they lived and the way they died. How wonderful God was to give us these creatures to take care of us…our guardian angels of the night. How glorious a prospect that we might spend this life with an animal that will never hurt us, lie to us, cheat or steal from us, but will demonstrate undying devotion and loyalty no matter what our words or conduct. There are only two words that describe the dog: Unconditional Love.

God is clear in the scriptures…There is no greater demonstration of love than a friend who will lay down his life for another. God bless K9 Ranger who died in the line of duty saving mankind. He was on a search for a hunter. The hunter had been electrocuted by a fallen wire. On Ranger's approach to his fallen victim, he himself became a victim. But in the process, he saved the lives of his partner and other members of the search team who would not have seen the wire. A demonstration of divine intervention: K9 Ranger gave his life so that we might live. And when we look back on Ranger, a hero, let's remember not how he died, but how he lived. In fact, when we look back in our memories of all our K9 partners, let's remember the life, the commitment, the never ending energy, the loyalty and the love. The dedication they had and demonstrated to their human partners. Oh this silent, courageous friend of man. Our ally, our companion, our partner. What a wonderful GOD to give us such a wonderful friend. Praise be His for His wisdom."

(At this time the canine handlers who are having dogs honored stand with white candles in their hands and as each name is read, their candle is lit.)

Echohawk's Shaman
Absaroka Search Dogs of Montana

Mansha's Sirius
Search Services America

Clint
Task K-9, Inc.

Echohawk's Absaroka Loki
Absaroka Search Dogs of Montana

Bruga Von Kriegerhaus
Placer County Sheriff's SAR K9 Team
DOJ
CARDA

Pawnees Finden
Placer County Sheriff's SAR K9 Team
DOJ
CARDA

Pawnees Mesa Verde
Placer County Sheriff's SAR K9 Team
DOJ
CARDA

Trooper
Lauderdale Emergency Management K9 Team

Sukee's Greta
Maine Search and Rescue Dogs

Randi
White Deer Search and Rescue

Zack
NCSARDA

Ranger
Placer County Sheriff's K9 Team

Westerlea's la Sagouine
Powel River Canine Trackers
Royal Canadian Mounted Police SAR K9

Shadow of a Bear
Pathfinder Search and Rescue

Rosie
Michigan Technical Rescue Operations Team

Timberline's Rowdy Ranger (Duke)
Larimer County SAR
Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado

K-9 Katie
Hickory Rescue Squad

Kokomo
Florida FEMA Task Force II

Enrica von Lehrbacher Schloss
Mesard

K-9 Queenie

A Reading from I Corinthians 13:

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; Where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

"And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is love."

(The Handlers extinguish their candles)

"After dog understood…then GOD turned to man and said, "Behold, this is your partner. You shall worship him as he worships you. It is your duty to be kind to this gentle beast and know that in his mute way, he loves you. Your purpose is to care for him, through youth and age, until he can serve no more. Understand that your final act of love will take courage. Spare your partner any pain. Save his dignity. Know that he will never lie to you, he will always understand you and that his love will be blind. You are commanded to use him in service to mankind. I have placed him here as a guardian angel for you, to watch over you and care for you. He is from heaven, therefore divine. Let his character speak to your heart and be the example for you to follow. He shall fulfill your inequities. He shall be everything humanity strives to be: Honest, Loyal, Kind in Heart, and Strong in Spirit. Therefore, you shall call him PARTNER and best friend."

"So Sayeth the Lord. And man looked down upon dog and he knew it was good."