Remembering Ranger
Remembering Ranger
Emergency K-9 Operations, Inc. Search and Rescue dog, Ranger, worked with Clinton Police Officer Cpl. Joe Raaymakers for more than 10 years before passing away May 2. Ranger was not the average golden retriever as he helped with numerous death and fire investigations in the Midwest. Ranger was adopted in April 1999 by Raaymakers specifically for search work. He was a founding member of Emergency K-9 Operations, Inc., a 501c3 search group based in Clinton County. He also was available at law enforcement request.
Ranger received years of special training, including private instruction from Lois Hall of Clinton. He also attended training at the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthological Research Facility and the Body Farm, in Knoxville, Tenn.
Ranger was certified in land and water cadaver search, articles and evidence work and area search. He was a certified accelerant detector dog with the United States Police Canine Association and could locate 16 flammable liquids in a fire scene. He also was certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association to locate human remains.
Ranger helped with homicide and death investigations and fire scene investigation in numerous cities including Clinton, Clear Lake, LeClaire, Rock Island, Ill., and Fort Wayne, Ind.
Ranger also was a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs Inc. and regularly visited the Morrison Hospital’s Skilled Care Unit in Morrison, Ill.
Ranger made nearly 100 appearances at local schools, churches, pet fairs, the Chicago Dog Show, Boy Scout meetings, corporate safety days, the Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center, Safety Town, National Night Out, Kids Day America, community organizations, law enforcement and fire safety events and fundraisers.
When he wasn’t busy helping police and fire officials, Ranger enjoyed family life with Joe and Sarah Raaymakers and their children, Stone, Payton and Tanner.
- Posted on July 3, 2009
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I can really relate to this story, because I have two Golden Retrievers at my house. Their names are Aurora and Mollie. Mollie is a search dog too, but it's only for pieces of dog food that we hide all around the basement for her to find. It's fun to watch her sniff out each piece. My mom also told me that she has seen pictures of Ranger while she was working.
Ranger reminds me of My old dog Sampson but he was the opposite of Ranger he ran away a lot and he was in the pound about four times.
Don't worry Ranger, you will always be the Ranger in everybody's heart! Wow, my dog was very loyal. She was always following me and giving me dog kisses. Soon, we got a puppy named Carly who ALWAYS is following us and making sure we're okay. Ashley and Ranger will be very missed. :(
I remember hearing story after story about Ranger on the news. It is really cool that he visited all those schools. He also visited the community, so everyone knew he was a dog they could trust.
I have a golden retriever, he don't rescue people but he loves tennis ball's my dog is weird..
but that dog is awesome he rescued people if he wasn't there those people would be dead.
That is one smart dog. Wow. I can't believe he rescued people from dangerous house/building/forest fires. It's over amazing, it's astonishing/surprising. Well smarted dog.
-in loving memory of The Ranger
(homeroom)
Did Joe Raaymakers specialy ask for the dog or just got luck? It must have tooken a lot of schooling to teach the dog how to save people.
I cant believe that i hope they find it. I bet the owner is sad and upset because his dog is gone missing. I know that if I had a k-9 unit I would be upset if my dog went missing
That is kinda cool i guess. I mean I knew most of this information before hand but i still think dogs are da best animal ever.
That's so cute I thought they mostly did that in the big cities. I wish that my dog would do that she is a German Shepard. She's smart, but not that smart. I'm sad that he passed away but that's what everyone does.