Top cop dog Rex calls it a day

Time for crime fighter to put his paws up

Orrin Singh

November 6, 2016

For more than nine years Sergeant Krige and Rex were partners against crime. Now Rex will have to settle for a life as a house dog PHOTOS: Amy Jenkins

AFTER having served in the Empangeni K9 unit for nine years, Rex, a thoroughbred German Shepherd, is set to give his bark which – contrary to popular belief – is not worse than his bite, a break.

Rex, who will turn 11 in January, was adopted by the Empangeni K9 Unit in 2007 at the age of two.

He was put through a series of tests to obtain his level of aggression and intelligence.

Having passed with flying colours, Rex then completed a four-month patrol training course that same year before undergoing an explosives course in 2009.

Sergeant Johan Krige, soon to be owner and long-time partner to Rex, said he is sad to see his companion leave the force.

‘German Shepherds usually last around 12 years in the force, but over the last couple of years Rex has developed spondylosis which affects his spinal cord.’

Krige has been a member of Empangeni SAPS since 2001 before joining the K9 Unit in 2005.

Speaking from his home in Empangeni, he proudly made mention of a case in which Rex saved him from what could have possibly been a very bad situation.

‘The main part of Rex’s job was to track down suspects and weapons.

‘On one occasion we chased down a hijacked vehicle before a shoot-out ensued.

‘One of the suspects, who had been injured, got out of the vehicle and ran into the sugarcane fields. with Rex and I in hot pursuit.

‘It was difficult to find him in the sugarcane, however Rex found him in a trench – and lucky he did, because the suspect had a gun on him.’

Having served and protected for many years, even during the 2010 World Cup when Krige and Rex were deployed to Durban, the cunning canine has sniffed out countless guns, grenades and explosives.

Rex has even put his nose to use in rhino poaching cases.

Krige said his job isn’t the same without his canine friend.

‘I am struggling. Before I would get to a scene and jump out the vehicle with Rex. Now I get to a scene and I feel somewhat lost.’

The Kriges are in the process of taking ownership of Rex by paying a small fee to the state.

And while he admits that Rex now has to be taught on how to be a house dog, he said it is with profound sadness that he has to see his partner lay down his paws.