Youngstown police dog handler remembers his late partner

YOUNGSTOWN

City police dog handler Josh Kelly said he was not the only one in his police car whose adrenaline would flow when he got an important call.

Kelly said this week his former police dog, Helo, who had to be put to sleep Nov. 3, would start barking and get excited whenever he picked up the radio, turned on the siren or started driving fast.

Kelly has a new partner now, Gustav, but he said that one quality is the thing that stands out about Helo.

“I kind of miss that,” Kelly said.

Helo, a Belgian Malinois who was 12, retired at the end of the September and was replaced by Gustav. Both dogs lived with Kelly, his wife and their three daughters. Helo, however, was experiencing health problems, and when Kelly took him to the veterinarian, his condition had deteriorated rapidly and he had to be put down. Kelly said Helo was experiencing signs of old age before he retired as well.

When Helo was euthanized, the other officers on the department’s canine corps all showed up to give Kelly support. Kelly said he is grateful for their presence.

Read more about their relationship in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.