FHP K9 Drake
Retired Florida Highway Patrol K9 Drake was shot multiple times at his master’s West Palm Beach home last Sunday by armed burglars. On Friday, Trooper Bobby Boody, Drake’s owner, and Dr. Ken Simmons flew K9 Drake to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center in Gainesville in a final attempt to save the wounded dog’s life.
After a consult between Dr. Simmons, Trooper Boody, and UF veterinary surgeons, it was decided to put K9 Drake down to end his suffering. K9 Drake was euthanized at 6:14 Friday.
Trooper Boody was not at home Sunday when three suspects shot K9 Drake through a sliding glass door as the dog tried to defend the home. After entering the residence, at least one suspect shot Drake again. Boody arrived home later, discovered his wounded canine, and rushed him to an emergency clinic.
One juvenile suspect was apprehended because of his GPS-equipped ankle monitor. The 16 year old was on probation for Burglary and Grand Theft. He is now charged with Armed Burglary and Felony Cruelty to Animals. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two other suspects.
The arrested juvenile showed no remorse for shooting K9 Drake. The trio had targeted the trooper’s residence because they thought they would find guns and money there.
Trooper Boody was thankful for the community’s support. Over $15,000 was collected for K9 Drake’s care. Dr. Simmons flew Boody and Drake to Gainesville in his personal aircraft. Donations were still being accepted at the Simmons Veterinary Hospital (561-439-3220).
Funeral services for K9 Drake have not yet been announced.
I couldn’t feel more sadness for Trooper Boody or more anger toward the cowardly suspects.
Randall
I am so sorry for your loss of a wonderful friend, co-worker, and most important family member. He was a beautiful boy. God Speed to K9 Drake on his journey home to God. My prayers are with all of you.
Our sympathies to Trooper Broody, and his and K9 Drake’s family, all in the FHP law enforcement family and community and to K9 Drake whose life truly mattered; who reached the hearts and minds of so many, we give our appreciation for his service even in his retirement, he was doing a job he was trained for. And to his wonderful Doctor Ken Simmons, DVM who gave his all to try to save him, we salute you for being the best of your profession, a credit to your alumni at UF and a hero to all the dogs who keep us safe, secure and free. Thank you to anyone who contributes to his veterinary expenses. They may be sent to Simmons Veterinary Clinic 4975 Lake Worth Rd. Green Acres FL 33463 or if you need a tax deduction you can make payable and send to USWAR DOGS southern Chapter PO Box 10 Bronson FL. 32621 – mark check K9 Drake medical . We will send to Dr. Simmons with an audit trail report to both him and FHP in Tallahassee . k9mwds@gmail.com
Disclosure: The USWARDOGS Association is an all volunteer organization and recognized by the IRS as both a non-profit and veterans organization with a 501C-19 status. Its Southern chapter is registered with the state of Florida. We maintain an active status. Donations both in-kind and monetary are tax deductible, and will be acknowledged to retain by the donor for income tax purposes. Donations are used to directly benefit the MWDs and K9s that serve to keep Americans safe secure and free.
I have worked in “the system” for a long time and like many of you, have seen a lot – but this just tore me up. I send my sincere condolences to Trooper Boody and others that had the pleasure of working with Drake. This case seems to have awakened a sleeping giant. People are outraged. Thousands of caring people have expressed their concern on two different Facebook sites, donated toward veterinary expenses, sent emails to the State Attorney’s Office in Palm Beach and have signed a petition demanding that this case be filed in adult versus juvenile court and that the suspect be held fully accountable. As Drake is mourned, please know that thousands of us stand with Trooper Boody and will do our best to ensure that justice is served.
We now owe K9 Drake Honor and Memory and all the others who have served and passed and the 104 who died (LODD) in Florida and 1884 USA (LODD)
FYI – I sent the following to FHP Tallahassee. and to Dr. Simmons.
This is the name of a forensic highly experienced veterinary scientist – he was given the decisions process in the dogs belonging to Michael Vick by the FBI – and he brought in an ethicist professor from a college in Virginia to work with him. he writes books on animal behavior, and curriculum for police training in animal cruelty and animal laws – he is professionally qualified and is used in courts on major animal cruelty cases – he will confirm what he and I have experienced in our careers re the 16 year old and his partners who killed K9 Drake and have no remorse.
He may have been only warming up. It is highly likely he will want to elevate his ‘status’ by moving on to a human or in his mind a better one – those that wear the law enforcement badge or uniform. He and his partners in crime cannot slip thru any cracks and have even some sense of freedom unless efforts and experts confirm he/they feels remorse and will not prey on society again. Felony animal cruelty provision punishment time may not be enough – please find a way within our laws to prevent the high risk of him/them killing again and speak at meetings of judges and prosecutors about this and information gathered from this doctor in a generic way where they can listen before they get cases like this where they cant listen.
Society and even some prosecutors and judges place the victim different and the criminal penalty different between an animal and a human victim.- I’m not questioning the difference in value or any other difference – We should look at what is the same – the violence
and then on to what will most certainly evolve in the criminals mind.
Dr Randall Lockwood, DVM – He is with the ASPCA in New York randall.lockwood@aspca.org
I am so sorry for your loss …though this is a low crime area , what happened to you is my worse nightmare .
I have a beautiful GSD and I can’t imagine losing him that way …sending hugs
TRIBUTE
IN HONOR OF AND IN MEMORIAL TO K9 TROOPER DRAKE,
FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL ‘AMERICAN HERO’
Faithful Friend and K9 Partner to
TROOPER ROBERT IVEY AND TROOPER BOBBY BOODY (IN HIS RETIREMENT)
‘TWO BONDS NEVER BROKEN’
SPECIALTY: K9 PATROL, FLORIDA TURNPIKE ST. LUCIE COUNTY, TRAINED 480 HOURS AT FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT K9 PATROL SCHOOL, TALLAHASSEE; CONDUCTED NUMEROUS DEMONSTRATIONS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ACTIVE SERVICE DECEMBER 2009 TO MAY 2010. WOUNDED FROM FOUR SHOTS OF HOSTILE GUN FIRE IN AN ACT OF BRAVERY DEFENDING HIS AND TROOPER BOODY’S TARGETED HOME BY THREE PERPETRATORS. HIS VALIANT FIVE DAY FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE ENDED ONLY AFTER HE CREATED MUCH INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE SERVICE OF ALL HERO LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING DOGS – SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO DR. KEN SIMMONS, DVM – SIMMONS VETERINARY CLINIC GREEN ACRES,FL WHO DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE TO SAVE HIM AND THEN MORE INCLUDING FLYING HIM PERSONALLY TO U.F. VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND TO THE DOCTORS AT U.F. AND TO CHANNEL 12, CBS FOR ITS CONTINUING NEWS COVERAGE AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE VALUE IN HIS LIFE, HIS SERVICE AND STORY.
NOW HE RESTS AND PLAYS, BOTH IN PEACE, ONE EAR EACH AWAITING ONCE AGAIN TO HEAR TWO ‘GOOD BOYS’ FROM HIS TWO TROOPER PARTNERS
THERE is no greater TRUST than the one created by the bond between K9 law-enforcement working dogs and their Trooper, Police or Deputy handler. There is no greater LOYALTY than these dogs who would lay down their lives for their partners and for you and me if called on to do so in the line of duty; there is no greater COMFORT and ASSURANCE in public trust and safety to know that is truth and can always be counted on. There is no greater cheetah-like SPEED, to OBEDIENCE than by these dogs who respond to their partner’s commands to words that need only be said once. There is no better way to HONOR these dogs than to acknowledge, appreciate and respect them and their partners, both together in service for our safety, and to remember those partners lost together and forever to us and their families.
There is no better way to PAY them back than to treat all dogs a little kinder – a little gentler and with more compassion: those who serve our military in war, guard our beaches, serve our customs officers at our borders, our firefighters who save lives and property, our agriculture agencies who safeguard our food, our rescue dogs who aid in disaster or in loss of children or elderly, our assistance dogs who see and hear for us, predict our diseases and alert our seizures giving us freedom to work, drive and swim; those who are abused, exploited and cruelty treated for profit or criminal intent, those who provide therapy to heal us faster, comfort our needs, teach us to read and warn us of danger, and those who listen to our stories when we are sad and share our joy when we laugh; who gives us friendship and companionship like no other; and those in all animal shelters who were born unwanted, were neglected, abandoned and wait for a new and forever home.
There is no greater nose to scent, eyes to sight, heart to give and no braver or more courageous spirit to work and serve. Of these K-9 Working Dogs also can be attributed the highest form of sacrifice by man “greater love hath no man than to give up his life for another”. They are the elite and best of their breed. For them Heaven’s reward is a special section across the Rainbow Bridge reserved only for them where they play all day in meadows where angels sing; and never again hear the sound of another bullet. They are the very special select ones, our Guardians of the Night, whose life as a hero dog on earth represents the highest in VALOR. May they and their partners always be blessed and watched over by our Creator who you will find always in their name only backwards. barbara snow
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE AND SECURE SO THAT WE MAY LIVE IN FREEDOM “Faithfully, we lead the way”
United States War Dog Association, Southern Chapter
P.O. Box 10, Bronson, FL 32621
k9mwds @gmail.com
RIP My canine brother. CB Ret. NYPD.
Dear Friends in the Military, Law Enforcement and Animal Lovers re K-9 Drake.
Thank you for supporting the medical bills of FHP Trooper K-9 Drake (retired). I am happy to let you know they were all paid; and his Trooper/Handler/family did not have to pay his expensive veterinary bills.
Something WONDERFUL will happen as a result – a permanent memorial monument outside on the Simmons Veterinary Clinic property honoring Drake with his own statue
and one that will also, with their names, give honor and memory to ALL of Florida’s law enforcement K-9s. I am volunteering to help wonderful Dr. Ken Simmons (Drake’s Veterinarian of record) of Simmons Veterinary Clinic, Green Acres FL) who is most generously leading this project. Please go to this Kickstarter video link below to see Drake’s Awesome and Noble (almost finished) statue and….
(1) Pledge any amount you can and then:
(2) Please HELP Dr. Ken and me (Southern Chapter, U.S. WAR DOGS ASSN) in what you and we can do best in social media – get the message out to your friends and also to your contacts of dog and animal lovers and Businesses you frequent and clubs you belong to.
You will all be notified, appreciated and invited to the grand opening when announced. You can email me your ‘good news’ progress in this, if you like, as we progress or questions you receive for a response and I will reply. 15K needs to be pledged by April 5.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1102785715/remembering-drake-bronze-sculpture
Together we will make history that, in perpetuity, (I love that word) will give Honor and Memory to our silent heroes who ‘faithfully lead the way” against our enemies on foreign soil and criminals at home and deserve our appreciation for their loyal service.
IT’S COMING!!! WOOF….
AND BEING A PART OF IT IS SOMETHING
THAT WILL LIVE IN OUR MEMORIES FOREVER
Thank you very much
Barbara Snow, E.D.
U.S. WARDOGS ASSN. PO Box 10, Bronson FL. 32621
Southern Chapter
k9mwds@gmail.com
“Sometimes even best friends can’t be saved, and heroes die; but they
must never be forgotten”. Dr. Ken Simmons
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