A decorated officer from Maryland seeks the public’s help in saving the life of his K9 partner ‘Chip’ who he fears will be euthanized by the MCPD for no valid reason.
The 5-year-old Belgian Malinois was “forcibly retired” by the Montgomery County Police Department this spring, after he allegedly nipped his handler during a training exercise in April.
"It was a minor bite. I went to the ER, they put antiseptic on it, wrapped it up and I was back to work the next day. I didn't even need stitches,” Chip’s human counterpart Gil Fones told an ABC news crew this week.
But ever since being taken out of service, says Officer Fones, K9 Chip’s whereabouts are unknown, with the police department issuing contradictory statements that he’s either been confined to an area kennel or, worse, slated to be euthanized.
The situation is deeply troubling because, as any cop who’s worked beside a service dog can attest, it’s standard procedure for such handlers to adopt their K9s once the animals no longer work on the force -- an option that lawman Gil Fones is being denied.
"I've never seen anything like it before,” confirmed veteran canine handler Bo Curry. “It's never happened in the history of the department,” he said.
Curry’s fellow retired police handler, John Binnix echoed that statement: "I was bitten by other dogs, required stitches and everything else, but they were never taken,” he explained. “My dog was never taken from me … why Gil?”
Fone’s strange standoff with the MCPD over his beloved dog has resulted in a change.org petition to “Bring Police K9 Chip Home to His Family” which has so far garnered over 130,000 signatures.
Chip should not be killed or incarcerated, Officer Gil Fones wants the public to know. “He is not a liability, he had a bad day and he bit me,” he says. “I truly love him and I pray every day that he comes home.”
