Pubdate: Sat, 20 Dec 2008 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Kim Bolan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs) DEDICATED DRUG DOG DIES AFTER EIGHT YEARS WITH THE RCMP He was one of the most dedicated Mounties in B.C., seizing more than $42 million worth of illegal drugs and cash. And now tributes are pouring in for Jack the drug dog, who died shortly after he was formally retired from the RCMP Nov. 28. Jack, a black lab who began his career in October 2000, specialized in detecting marijuana, hash, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamine and ecstasy. After just two weeks on the job, he located a suitcase with two plastic bags full of almost $200,000 cash in an old beat-up van. The dog and his handler, Cpl. Tim Baulkham, also spent a lot of time visiting schools across Metro Vancouver. In March 2007, B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm ruled that Jack and his handler were official experts in the detection of drugs and the odour of drugs on currency in relation to a case they had worked on. Baulkham said Jack helped many lives over his years on the force. "The lump in my throat is the size of a grapefruit to this day. Jack gave our whole family more joy and love than anyone could have dreamed of, and I am forever in debt to him and will thank my lucky star for the amazing eight years that we had together. Jack will always be terribly missed, but never will be forgotten," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin