My sentiments exactly Danny. Was interesting to hear some of the views on talkback this afternoon, a large number of people can't understand why these heroic GSD's are not classed as serving officers (the charge for killing a police dog would then be the same as killing a human officer).

RIP Gage, may the dickhead who took your life get his just desserts

Bear's Mum

I believe they should hand these scum over to us . The loss of a police dog or any dog for that matter seems to mean nothing. NOT SO . Take him sky diving without a shute . Shelby

RIP at rainbow bridge for this 4 legged police officer. He paid the ultimate price.

In the USA in most jurisdictions the intentional injuring or killing of a police dog is a felony, subjecting the perpetrator to harsher penalties just as an assault on a human police officer is often a more serious offense than the same assault on a non-officer.

A growing number of law-enforcement organisations outfit dogs with ballistic vests, as with human police officers, and most states in USA even go so far as to make the dogs sworn officers, each with their own police badges and IDs.

Furthermore, a police dog killed in the line of duty is often given a full police funeral.

Why don't we have the same laws in NZ, surely it can't be that hard to make them sworn officers here? I understand that the people who kill police officers and dogs will do it regardless, however the end purpose is you are keeping some lunatic off the streets for a longer period of time, and in prison where they should be.

According to the Herald this morning, Gage gave his own life to save that of his handler ( who was shot in the cheek and the jaw), and his partner who whilst diving out a window was shot in the thigh.
Gage gave them enough time to be able to escape from the physcotic idiot with the gun by distracting him.
However,Gage paid the ultimate price, without him the officers would have either been shot and killed or shot more severely.
His handler had surgery last night to have a titanium plate inserted in his jaw as it was shattered in 4 places, and the other officer had surgery for a gun shot wound that passed straight through his thigh.

My thoughts are with all concerned, especially Gage's handler and his family who have had a family member hurt and lost one forever

visit

www.police.govt.nz

to see a lovely photo of Gage with his handler during happier times.
We are also reminded of Enzo who was strangled and drowned in 2007, he was the 22nd dog to die in the line of duty

The most distressing thing for me is that I can not go to a NZ news website nor pick up the Dominion Post without seeing an image of poor Gage lying on the street!!

They never show photos of dead humans, where is the media's humanity, show some respect to an animal that has given its life to protect and serve this country!!

As for the %#!@~ that did this, well, words can not describe how I feel!!!

From xtrayahoo news page at 2pm.

The 34-year-old Christchurch man who shot two police officers and killed a police dog yesterday will appear in court today on two charges of attempted murder.

Along with the two counts of attempted murder, Christopher Graeme Smith, a process worker, of Phillipstown, has also been charged with intentionally killing a police dog, cultivation of cannabis, possession of a pig knife, and using a firearm against a member of police.

Let's hope he gets what he deserves. Including killing young Gage.
RIP brave boy.

I hope they throw away the key but sadly that wont happen.

I would like to see him put in a pen with some police dogs and that would put the fear god into him.

Toots