After caring for over 2,000, Canada’s first justice facility dog passes away
Posted August 21, 2023 10:14 pm.
Police in Delta say Canada’s first-ever victim services justice facility dog — Caber — has passed away at 15-years-old.
The well-travelled canine was a trailblazer in providing support to victims and witnesses on the stand in Canadian courts.
“Because of Caber’s work, over 70 Justice Facility Dogs across Canada are now providing support to those who need it. Caber provided nine years of service to the DPD, working to support over 2,100 victims of crime and trauma,” reads a release from Delta Police.
Caber was born in 2008 before being raised and trained by the Pacific Assistance Dog Society (PADS) in Burnaby, B.C. — little did this puppy know, his work would take him all over the map.
He went on to provide support in Fort McMurray after a 2016 wildfire ravaged the town. He even worked alongside the FBI and provided care and support to survivors of the 2017 Las Vegas Route 91 mass casualty shooting.
A Facebook post from his handler, Kim, says Caber helped 2,132 victims of crime and trauma over the course of his life.
“The hearts he touched spanned Canada and abroad. Caber was the ambassador of the Facility Dog movement in Canada, leaving a legacy across our country,” reads an excerpt from the post.
“Caber showed us the importance of helping others unconditionally and with an open and generous spirit. His was, quite simply, a beautiful soul.”
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Police say — outside of his actual support work — Caber naturally supported people around him in the workplace.
“As we remember and celebrate Caber’s life, we are reminded of the profound difference one dog, paired with a dedicated handler, can make in countless lives. Let’s cherish these memories, appreciate his exceptional journey, and pay respect to the enduring legacy he leaves behind,” police added.
Anyone who would like to do something special in Caber’s honour is asked to make a donation to PADS — so more dogs can be trained to offer care and support to those who need it.
