Patrol dogs | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As a dog owner who has traveled thousands of miles with many different dogs, I feel so sad about the loss of Utah Highway Patrol service dog Tank, who was struck on Interstate 80 after Trooper Cham Neff pulled over and let Tank out for a break ("Utah Highway Patrol dog struck and killed on I-80," Tribune, Nov. 18).

What a horrible, avoidable waste! This could have been avoided with a simple leash on the dog. The lack of common sense cost the dog his life and the department thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, Tank is not the first Utah dog on duty to lose its life due to human error. In recent years, officers leaving their canine officer in hot cars have killed several dogs.

Trooper training should include the fact that loose dogs and interstate highways don't mix.

Gary Raines

Salt Lake City