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Canine hero memorialized by OPP Museum

OPP NEWS RELEASE ***************************** Cloud II to be memorialized by OPP Museum OPP exhume legendary canine killed in the line of duty NORTH BAY - On Wednesday October 26, 2011, the remains of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) canine, Cloud II
CloudII_OPPdog

OPP NEWS RELEASE

***************************** Cloud II to be memorialized by OPP Museum

OPP exhume legendary canine killed in the line of duty

NORTH BAY - On Wednesday October 26, 2011, the remains of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) canine, Cloud II, were exhumed for future relocation to the OPP General Headquarters in Orillia.

The renowned OPP tracking dog was initially buried at the former OPP district headquarters on Chippewa Street in North Bay in 1975, a building which will soon be vacated by the OPP.

Cloud II was a well-known and respected police dog.

During his four-year career with then Provincial Constable Ray Carson, they together captured 123 fugitives.

The duo even “stumped” the panel on the popular Canadian panel game Front Page Challenge in November 1974.

Cloud II was also inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame in 1974 for his “unflinching courage against great odds” - praise he earned for his daring disarming of two escaped juveniles in which he retrieved a loaded gun and a knife from the suspects who were hiding in a fishing hut.

Sadly, Cloud II was shot and killed in the line of duty on September 2, 1975 while tracking a wanted fugitive to a cabin about 30 kilometres northeast of Sudbury.

Considered by many to be a local hero, his burial was attended by many North Bay citizens, including a number of school children whom he had met during class visits with his handler.

In a fitting tribute to Cloud II, retired OPP Corporal Ray Carson, accompanied by his son Tony, was on hand during the exhumation Wednesday.

“Cloud II was the first canine in the province of Ontario to be killed in the line of duty,” explains Staff Sergeant Rob McDonald. “He was a popular police dog often visiting schools and attending public events. We didn’t want to leave him behind."

The OPP Museum is proud to continue the tradition of preserving the memory of this exceptional dog, who persists as an image of OPP canine operations today and whose photo continues to appear in OPP literature.

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