EMPD K9 Unit instructor mourns loss of beloved Raka
The retired explosive-sniffing police dog helped recover scores of illegal weapons while serving in the EMPD K9 Unit
Tributes are pouring in after EMPD K9 Unit canine 13-year-old Raka’s bark went silent forever on September 29.
The German shepherd’s handler, Attie Fourie, explained Raka, who lived with him and his family for about 13 years, suffered a stroke and had to be euthanised.
“My heart is broken. Raka was more like a child to me than a dog. He would’ve sacrificed everything to keep me safe. Raka was always with me and never lived in a kennel. He was one of the most intelligent canines I have ever worked with. Raka could sniff out explosives, firearms and ammunition,” Attie, an experienced EMPD instructor for explosive devices, explained.
According to Attie, Raka was trained for explosive detection at the JMPD Dog Training Centre in 2008 and joined the EMPD that same year. Raka retired early in 2019 after serving the Ekurhuleni metro for about a decade.
Attie highlighted that he and Raka obtained national colours at the South African Working Dog Association for explosives detection in 2008.
The instructor, who resides in Germiston, pointed out that Raka was heavily involved in the Boksburg community.
“Raka regularly visited schools in Boksburg for demonstration shows or to sniff out firearms. He helped us to recover many weapons,” Attie told the Advertiser.
He said Raka was a special dog who also donated blood to save the lives of other dogs, adding that he will be missed.
“I would also like to use this opportunity to thank my wife, Christell, for everything she did for Raka,” he added.
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