Search dog in Halo case & others honored at Capitol

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Saturday into Sunday, March 9th, police dogs assisted in the search for Baby Halo Branton. March 13th will hold a new annual significance. A resolution passed in the State Assembly Wednesday makes March 13th “K9 Veteran’s Day”. Dogs from the Schenectady County Sheriff's office, at least one of whom assisted in the search, were at the capital for that honor. 

Police dogs narrowed the search of the GE plant in Schenectady for 10-month-old Halo Branton who was reported missing. The search ultimately yielded tragic results. Officers found the infant up to her neck and water at the base of a pipe, she later died at Ellis Hospital.  As you can imagine, the search that brisk night was no easy task.

“So a lot of the spots that they had was last known location. So we just try to pick up a track" said Schenectady Sherffi's Deputy Clifford.

Clifford described the difficulty search teams encountered.

“But the terrain was extremely difficult to manipulate with the dogs so it wasn't like you could just get on the track and find it it was a steep embankment, so there's different techniques that we have to work around those situations," said Clifford.

Today, Senator Angelo Santa Barbara along with members of the Schenectady Sheriffs and Police Departments, took the time to honor name’s dog and other search dogs who help out all across the state.

“Searching for young kids is never easy compared to searching for a criminal. It isn't an easy thing to do but the dogs don't know any different. They get a task and they do their job" said Clifford.

Five large dogs in a small room went about as well as it could go — the dogs ferociously barked at each other.

“They're not usually in this close proximity with each other. Even on that search we weren't where we can even see each other so the dogs are obedient but at the time they're all alpha males and they have a little hierarchy but they like to try and dictate" Clifford explained.

In the end, dogs across New York State, along with these K-9s, were honored with the designation of March 13th as K-9 Veterans Day in New York State.