Oklahoma

Service, Support, & Celebrity
Animals

GUNNEY

 © The Anadarko Daily News
pub in the July 22-23, 2000 edition

Gunny laid to rest

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City police and Oklahoma County Sheriff 's Department officials were among about 50 people who paid their final respects to the last of the local rescue dogs that helped with bombing recovery efforts in 1995.

"Gunney" was laid to rest Thursday morning in the Precious Pets Cemetery in Spencer. The German shepherd died July 11.

"He was a cut-up," said retired Sgt. Don Browning, Gunney's partner and handler. "He had the neatest personality of any dog I ever worked with. He was the best-humored and most sensitive dog in the world."

Gunney and Browning worked at the bomb site from April 19, 1995, until midnight May 4, returning again May 29 to locate the final three victims. The pair worked up to 22 hours a day and recovered 21 victims.

After the rescue work was over, Gunney grew ill. In time, his health improved, but he gradually lost sight in one eye as a result of an infection caused by the concrete dust.

He retired from the Oklahoma City police canine unit in June l997, about four years after joining the force, and remained with the Browning family until his death.

As a result of the recovery effort, Gunney and Ario, a police dog who died last year, were inducted into the Oklahoma Pet Hall of Fame.

In a poignant' demonstration of his respect, Browning dropped Gunney's leash into the grave.

"Another dog, no matter how good, could never be as good as him," he said. "I'm going to honor his memory by not trying to replace him."

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