July 1, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Department K-9 to be Laid to Rest Tomorrow

■ Dog died after being struck by auto Friday night / Training to Continue

The Shreveport Fire Department will lay one of their Search and Rescue Team K-9s to rest in a 10:00 a.m. ceremony tomorrow on the north grounds of the Fire and Police Training Academy, 6640 Greenwood Road. "Atlas," a two and a half year old black Labrador Retriever, died Friday night in Jonesborough after being hit by an auto while with handler Captain Richard Morrow. Both were off duty. In 1999 Atlas was the first dog brought into the department’s newly formed K-9 team. He was an extremely intelligent dog with a comical nature that brought great joy and inspiration to the entire team. Atlas will be truly missed by the team and department.

This Thursday, July 5 at 9:00 a.m. the Search and Rescue K-9 Team will conduct aquatic training at the Cross Lake Public Boat Launch. Included in the training will be Atlas’ replacement "Darby," a one-year-old Belgium Malinois. The team has been working with Darby in a limited capacity, and will now move her to the forefront of the team’s efforts. The team’s newly refurbished K-9 truck and new underwater scent generator, which is used to find underwater drowning victims, will be on display. ###