DEDICATED DRUG DOG DIES AFTER EIGHT YEARS WITH THE RCMP

He was one of the most dedicated Mounties in B.C., seizing more than
$42 million worth of illegal drugs and cash. And now tributes are
pouring in for Jack the drug dog, who died shortly after he was
formally retired from the RCMP Nov. 28.

Jack, a black lab who began his career in October 2000, specialized in
detecting marijuana, hash, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamine and
ecstasy. After just two weeks on the job, he located a suitcase with
two plastic bags full of almost $200,000 cash in an old beat-up van.

The dog and his handler, Cpl. Tim Baulkham, also spent a lot of time
visiting schools across Metro Vancouver. In March 2007, B.C. Supreme
Court Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm ruled that Jack and his
handler were official experts in the detection of drugs and the odour
of drugs on currency in relation to a case they had worked on.

Baulkham said Jack helped many lives over his years on the force. "The
lump in my throat is the size of a grapefruit to this day. Jack gave
our whole family more joy and love than anyone could have dreamed of,
and I am forever in debt to him and will thank my lucky star for the
amazing eight years that we had together. Jack will always be terribly
missed, but never will be forgotten," he said.