Beloved police dog to be memorialized

Astor sniffed out explosives, collared crooks and protected visiting dignitaries.

But he also often brought a smile to the DuPage County courthouse employees who worked alongside the sheriff's canine for eight years.

As a tribute to their furry four-legged friend, dozens of employees, attorneys and judges dug into their own pockets to raise $1,400 in a few weeks for a memorial.

Astor was euthanized Oct. 15 after cancer spread rapidly through his body. He was 10.

Marge Kaczmarek began collecting donations a short time later to recognize his public service.

"I felt something should be done," said Kaczmarek, the felony division's presiding secretary. "Astor was everybody's dog here. We all felt like he belonged to us. There are a lot of people in this building who cared for and loved Astor."

A program is tentatively set for Dec. 13 to unveil a portrait of Astor that will be installed in the courthouse hallway. The remainder of the donations, about $1,000, will be given to DuPage County Animal Care and Control in Astor's name.

The portrait was created by Masterpiece Framing in Bloomingdale. Even owner Matt Puchalski, who created the artwork at a discount, was moved by Astor's story.

"It was for a good cause," Puchalski said. "We just wanted to help out. He must have had a big impact over there."

He did.

Astor served as DuPage County's first explosives-detection dog. He and his handler, Deputy George Foy, kept the courthouse and its occupants safe. But the crime-fighting duo accomplished so much more during their time together.

Astor often was called out to area crime scenes and for bomb threats. It was Astor who found the gun, buried in the snow, used in a fatal apartment shooting at Benedictine University in January 2004. He had 42 actual finds of explosives and guns during his career.

He secured the grounds of the 2006 PGA Championship golf tournament in Medinah. He made sure local school buildings were safe after a bomb threat before students were allowed back inside. He also guarded visiting dignitaries, such as President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

"Astor was beloved," DuPage Chief Judge Ann Jorgensen said. "He was a dedicated canine officer. No one was better. But that dog also had such a personality. That's why he was so loved."

The teaming of Astor and Foy in August 1999 was more than coincidence. Foy is a retired bomb-disposal specialist with the U.S. Army. He also worked myriad assignments for the Secret Service during his 21-year career.

Astor came from a kennel in Holland. The partners trained for six weeks in Texas before Astor, at 22 months, came home with Foy.

Astor was trained and certified in detecting 23 different types of explosives, including different varieties of dynamite. The sheriff's other explosives dog, Utah, a 4-year-old black Labrador, who also is stationed at the courthouse, has taken over Astor's duties.

Donations still may be made. For more information, e-mail Marjorie.Kaczmarek@dupageco.org.