An honour guard of six dog handlers stood to attention for RAAF military working dog Ethan 1796 as he and his handler walked through for the last time on Saturday, March 21.
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His handler of seven years Corporal Harry Lazarou, who left the RAAF last year, flew up from Victoria to spend his last few hours with him before taking him to the vet to be put down.
CPL Lazarou said Ethan, known affectionately as Beef, was a Belgian Malinois, the preferred breed of the RAAF these days. German Shepherds’ hip problems have led to their falling from favour.
‘‘He was my best mate, he worked every shift with me for seven years,’’ CPL Lazarou said.
He said Belgian Malinois were fiery natured ‘‘and they don’t have an off switch!’’ he laughed.
‘‘They’re really quick and they love to work and they’re a bit smaller than the German Shepherds which means they cost a bit less to feed.’’
He said Ethan had two roles — one as a general duties police dog used for base security — and a combat role as a lead scout, where he would be on a 15ft lead on an exercise, sniffing for wind scent or following a man trail. ‘‘The best he did was track 2km in the dark on Richmond Base,’’ CPL Lazarou said.
‘‘He was great at man trails and building searches — he could find intruders in a matter of minutes.’’
CPL Lazarou said there were normally about 10-20 dogs on base at any one time. Ethan would be used if there was a report of a perimeter breach or protests at the gates, or exercises. He was never deployed to a combat zone but his brother was used in the SAS — just luck of the draw.
Since CPL Lazarou left last year, Ethan was in semi-retirement, a ‘‘reservist’’ if they were a dog short for a job for whatever reason, and just getting enough exercise to be useful with his last handler Sarah Merrill.
‘‘He was almost 13, his hearing and eyes were going, and his back legs were tender.’’
He said Ethan had a very full on, physically demanding career.
‘‘I take my hat off to him.’’
CPL Lazarou took him to the vet at North Richmond himself. He was cremated and his ashes will be returned to CPL Lazarou in a ‘K9 hard case’ memorial box with a flag, his collar, an image of him and the words that CPL Lazarou asked to be put on it.
‘‘Stand down Ethan, you have served your master well.’’
