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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 4, 1992                   TAG: 9202040305
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WINCHESTER                                LENGTH: Short

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HEROIC DOG DESTROYED

Apollo, a German shepherd whose stabbing while defending officers led to a state law making it a felony to wound a police animal, has been destroyed.

Winchester police Investigator L.W. Millholland said Monday that the dog, which would have turned 11 this month, was killed Friday.

He said the dog never recovered from injuries it received when he was stabbed with a samurai sword on May 22, 1988.

Millholland said Apollo had begun to lose the use of its hindquarters, which were partially paralyzed as a result of nerve damage from wounds it sustained in the attack. The dog also suffered intermittent seizures, which had worsened in recent months, he said.

Apollo, which was credited with assisting in 140 arrests over its 5-year career, was retired from active duty after the attack, in which Millholland also was wounded.

The man who stabbed Millholland and Apollo was convicted of the attempted murder of a police officer.

After the stabbing, Del. Alson Smith Jr., D-Winchester, was successful in getting the General Assembly to pass a law making the wounding of a police animal a felony.

The offense is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Defendants also can be ordered to make up to $30,000 in restitution to replace animals.

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