The Baltimore County Fire Department took a call at 7:30 pm. A 10-year-old boy had gotten off his school bus, heading to his grandparents' house outside Towson, MD. But, it was a cold, snowy afternoon, and he never made it there. Lt. Dan Kluge and his partner Barney, a Golden Retriever in the department's canine rescue unit, went into action. They tracked the boy from the spot where the bus had dropped him off three hours before. Barney followed the youngster's trail a half-mile into the woods.

Suddenly, Barney became excited, barking and straining at his lead to get to a nearby clump of bushes. That is just where they found the boy. He was extremely hypothermic due to the cold, but he pulled through okay.

This is Barney, shown in December 1996. Barney worked with the Baltimore County Fire Department in Maryland. We live in Baltimore County, and knew how special this guy was to the department. He has been with Baltimore County ever since he began specialized training as an 8-week-old pup. As a search dog working in an area made up of mostly urban and wooded suburban areas, he's usually involved in finding the bodies of crime or of outdoor accidents.

In more than 100 missions, Barney had accounted for 40 missing people. His sense of smell is so acute that he can locate a person under 75 feet of water. When he finds someone alive, he gets exited and barks at them and tried to go to them. When unfortunately he has found someone who has died, he seems sad that he's not going to get to play with the person. "He puts his ears down and digs at the spot." And, you wonder, what is the reward for a successful search? Well, it's the chance to play with a tennis ball!

Off duty, at home with Lt. Dan Kluge and his family, Barney is a collector of stuffed animals. You know, so many Goldens are (we have at least 40 between Ollie & Darcy!). Of course, the kids in the family aren't so happy when Barney's picked one of their animals to take for his own. But, Barney will fight with them over it, and they generally give up after about a week. "Then he knows it's his."

Earlier in the year (1996), Barney was found to have a lump on his neck. It proved to be lymphosarcoma, a type of cancer affecting the lymph system that can spread to an animal's lungs, liver, spleen, central nervous system, or digestive system. We know about this problem, as Ollie was just diagnosed with the same condition in June 1998.

The cost of chemotherapy was estimated at $3,000, but the county would not be able to pay for such an expensive treatment plan. Well, Maryland residents came to Barney's rescue. They raised over $46,000 to cover his treatment, (some of that donated money coming from our family). There was so much money coming in that the Fire Department had to tell people to stop sending donations. The extra funds have been used to provide regular medical care for Barney and his two colleagues, Mattie, a black Lab, and Riggs, another Golden Retriever. Some of the money has even been earmarked for acquiring new dogs and paying for their training.

While the monetary outpouring was amazing, the emotional support was what so touched Lt. Kluge. "We received more than 3,000 cards and letters offering words of kindness. Many of the letters told stories of how our K-9 friends had touched their lives. There were also offers of marriage or 'wild weekends' with some rather attractive Goldens."
 

Rescue Dog Barney Dies: Baltimore, MD Jan 22, 1997
Reporter: Lu Ann Canipe; Photographers: WBFF Staff

His illness touched the hearts of many in our community while his heroics became known around the world. Barney, Baltimore county's search and rescue dog, has lost his battle with cancer. Lu Ann Canipe has more tonight on this well-loved canine.

Lu Ann Canipe: Few animals have made such a difference in so many human lives.

Lt. Dan Kluge / Barney's Handler: "Barney's been on over a hundred missions, he's had over 45 finds. That's highly unusual for search dogs, one of best ever in country."

Handling and training the 7 year old rescue dog since he was a few weeks old, Lt. Dan Kluge holds on to Barney's belongings.

Lt. Dan Kluge / Barney's Handler: "He touched everyone. He had a look about him, a goof really until he had to do his job, then he was all business."

And citizens of Baltimore County meant business when almost 50 thousand dollars in donations poured in for treatment of Barney’s cancer.

Mark Hubbard / Baltimore Co. Fire Dept.: "What came as a shock we thought Barney was well on the way to recovery. Over the holidays, his lungs filled with fluid and it became clear he was losing the battle."
 
In recent weeks, Barney made a national dog magazine dubbed its first dog who makes a difference. And assisted Baltimore County Homicide detectives in the search for a serial killers victims. It's important to lt. Kluge that Mattie and Riggs, the other two members of the fire department's search and rescue unit, aren't forgotten.

Mark Hubbard / Baltimore Co. Fire Dept.: "It's a very good resource and we don't want this program to die with Barney."

That's why kluge has formally requested another puppy for the unit when it became clear, in recent days, that Barney was not getting better.

Lt. Dan Kluge / Barney's Handler: "His eyes said it was time to give up, he didn't want to fight anymore."

Kluge and his family drove Barney to the vet yesterday. His daughter Melissa sharing two ice cream cones with him on the way.

Lt. Dan Kluge / Barney's Handler: "We stayed with him right there in room... layed in our laps... went peacefully... looked happy when he was gone."

One of Baltimore County Fire Department's finest members. In Baltimore County, Lu Ann Canipe FOX-45 News at Ten.