By Hamish Clark
Among yesterday's casualties was a police dog called Gage, shot dead while protecting two officers.
Police say the role dogs play in the force is both indispensable and dangerous.
It’s an image that's upset police and many New Zealanders: six-year-old gage lying dead in the middle of the street.
“Anguish, grief it doesn't matter whether it has been killed or died naturally there is a huge void that is left within the handler and its family,” says National Training Centre senior sergeant John Edmonds.
Dog handler Bruce Lamb was shot in the jaw. Police say his German Shepherd jumped over his injured handler inside the house to attack the gunman. Only to be shot and killed.
"The dog was in its prime the team were in their prime they were performing in an outstanding manor out on the street and so this is your worst nightmare as a dog handler,” says police dog training co-ordinator Brendon Gibson.
The Christchurch dog unit is a tight knit family. Yesterdays events are a reminder of the dangers they can face.
“When you are with the dog 24/7 he is like one of the family as it was my familiy was quite upset with the news that Gage had gone,” says police dog handler Lyal Bayliss.
In the breeding kennels at the national dog training centre the next puppies being readied for the frontline.
It takes ten months to train a police dog at a cost of $30,000.
In eight months one-day-old Ruby will be ready to officially begin her training as a police patrol dog
“We will be pulling out all stops to find a dog that will be suitable for Bruce and Bruce will determine in his own time when he wants to take another dog on,” says Mr Gibson.
Gage’s name will be added to a wall of remembrance. The 23rd police dog to die in the line of duty.
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