In the split second that a German Shepherd Dog named “Troy” lunged at a gunman and took a bullet at point blank range, a human police officer standing nearby with a loaded .22-calibre rifle pointed at his chest was given the chance to live.  Troy never hesitated when given the order, “Take him,” after the gunman failed to disarm. The shot killed “Troy” instantly, and the man who killed him was sentenced to serve a mere year in jail.

“Troy” was a police dog serving the police department in Hamilton, a Canadian port city on the western tip of Lake Ontario. His death on February 25, 1992 lead to a push for legislation in Canada that would toughen penalties for those harming an on-duty law enforcement animal.  “Troy’s Law” didn’t pass. Neither did two more attempts to make it an offense to harm a law  enforcement animal while accompanying a peace officer or public officer engaged in the execution of their duties.

In 2010, the Hamilton Police Department celebrated its 50th Anniversary and adopted a new patch on its uniforms.  The silhouette of a German Shepherd Dog’s head prominent on the patch is, in fact, “Troy,” and is based on the photo of him seen at the right. Hamilton police officers never forgot “Troy,” and honor his memory by displaying him rather than the department logo.

Two years ago, “Quanto’s Law” was passed, so named for an Edmonton police dog stabbed to death during a call. It was, in essence, the same legislation once named for “Troy.” We commend our friends to the north for their honor of their canine partners.