Lieutenant Winters, a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois/Shepherd died Friday after being injured during a training exercise in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Win was a part of Virginia Task Force 2. Win had been deployed five times by FEMA, including during Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti.
In a press release today, Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Riley explained how the dog was injured:
He entered through a small opening of the rubble pile, where the victim was located, when the accident occurred. A piece of concrete reinforcing wire punctured his chest cavity causing internal bleeding. Although Win was injured, he finished his search, located the victim, and laid at her side. The canine handler immediately sensed a problem and Win was quickly transported to Bay-Beach Veterinary Hospital where Team Doctor/Veterinarian Mark Honaker was unable to save Win. He died shortly after arriving at the animal hospital. Win died doing what he was trained and loved to do, performing his job to the very end.
Also on STATter911 …
- Citizen videos from jet crash at Virginia Beach, VA apartment complex. – April 6, 2012
- Fireground audio & more early video: Jet crash & fire at Virginia Beach apartment complex. – April 6, 2012
- NIOSH report: Zachary Whitacre, Virginia firefighter who fell off rear step of tanker headed to fill site at West Virginia fire. Father was driving rig. – September 11, 2012
- Helmet-cam: St. Paul, MN house fire. – February 12, 2013
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I trust Win will get the honors and respect he deserves and EARNED. Go enjoy that great big rawhide bone in the sky!
My sincere sympathies to Virginia Beach on the loss of their heroic dog Win. How sad, and what a wonderful dog. I thought rescue dogs wore booties for their paws and perhaps protection for their chests and heads? Win will get lots of doggie treats in Heaven.
He shows that a hero is defined by his actions and not the outcome.
I know there is a special place in heaven for those who give their lives in service to others.
Lieutenant Winters, thank you for you service to countless people in need of rescue. We shall carry on with your courage to guide us…
It is always sad when we lose someone in the emergency services, just because Win was as some people not in emergency services may put it “just a dog”, was in fact a part of our family. Win has impacted or saved many lives, by doing what he loved to do! I know some handlers who say the dog does it because they get something they love out of it in the end whether it be a great meal, a bone, or a ball, but to them there is nothing more satisfying than saving a life, the meal, bone, or ball is a treat, but dogs sense when they help humans. Win, you are gone, but you will never be forgotten, now you can live life in doggie heaven where the grass is always green, there is always food, fresh water, and tons of toys to play with, there may even be couches to chew on and no one to yell at you for it! You will always be missed, but remembered for what you have done!
Our sympathy is certainly with the team; we at SC-TF1 lost two of our canines in the past five years. Although neither of the situations were related to training or deployment, it is regardless a serious loss to the entire team, and especially the handlers. It is a very sad time indeed and we will keep you all in our thoughts.
poor guy, at least he has done his job for our country. Rest in Peace!