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2 Saanich police dogs take on retired life with tails wagging

Grimm and Max become family pets
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Grimm and Max retired this month and now live as family pets with their handlers. (Saanich Police/Twitter)

Two Saanich police service dogs (PSD) are trading in crime scenes for games of fetch as they leap into retirement this month.

On Feb. 1, the Saanich Police Department said goodbye to two long-time members of the K-9 unit: PSD Grimm and PSD Max.

Both Const. Matt Morin, Grimm’s handler, and Sgt. Steve Eassie, Max’s handler, have been reassigned to other units within the department and the dogs were retired from the K-9 unit – as is often protocol, said Const. Markus Anastasiades, public information officer.

READ ALSO: Saanich, Victoria K9 units combine forces

Police service dogs provide a “phenomenal service” to the community and the department wishes Grimm and Max well, he said, adding that they’re in for some long walks on the beach instead of days spent chasing suspects.

Police service dogs are working dogs, but they live with their human partners and retirement is no exception. Grimm and Max will spend the rest of their days as family pets with their respective handlers.

On Feb. 1, the Saanich and Victoria police departments announced a new Integrated Canine Service (ICS) that will share resources to better serve the community.

READ ALSO: Even police dogs get a summer vacation

The ICS currently has six handlers – two from Saanich and four from Victoria – and eight service dogs, Anastasiades said. Six of the pups are German shepherds and the other two are Labradors trained to sniff out explosives.

The $1.25-million operation is based out of VicPD’s Esquimalt station and the serves Saanich, Victoria and Esquimalt.


@devonscarlett
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devon.bidal@saanichnews.com