Kramer went to the Bridge :frown:

[EmmysMom]

I didn't know this dog except from what I have read about him on line. He sounds like he was a wonderful rep of our breed and I felt his story deserved to be here! There was a picture of him w/his owner but I couldn't move it over here. He was beautiful!!


Kids' best friend passes away
Sheriff's deputy's dog devoted life to helping children cope with problems.
Jim Pfiffer
September 20, 2006


Star-Gazette file photo
Kramer, shown here in a March 2000 photo, was Chemung County Sheriff's Deputy Juli Lathrop's partner in her job as resource officer at Broadway Middle School. Kramer was euthanized Sunday after a 6-month battle with throat cancer.

Say goodbye to Kramer
•Services: 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, Olthof Funeral Home, Southport; followed by eulogy and balloon launch.

Kramer died they way he lived -- peacefully, when he was ready and with his best friend.

The 9-year-old Rottweiler was euthanized Sunday after battling throat cancer.

We rarely write dog obituaries, but Kramer wasn't a typical canine.

Kramer was famous. That's why he's getting a public service at Olthof Funeral Home in Southport. Plenty of people want to pay respects and say goodbye.

Kramer was one of those dogs everybody loved. Couldn't help it. He lived to be loved.

Most of that love came from teens at Broadway Middle School in Southport. That's where Kramer's owner, Juli Lathrop, discovered the K-man's charm.

Juli is a Chemung County sheriff's deputy. She brought Kramer to Broadway seven years ago when she became the school resource officer.

"I figured it would make me and my uniform more approachable," Juli explains. "I thought it would get the kids to talk to me."

It did. But they did more than chat.

They told secrets they never told anyone. They spoke of sexual and physical abuse, abandonment and thoughts of suicide.

In Kramer they had found someone who didn't judge or poke fun. He didn't care if you were rich, poor, black or white.

He just listened, with his big head nestled in a kid's lap while they talked. He liked everyone.

"I've seen kids break down and cry while they talked to him, while they held him and poured out tales of horror ... things they would not disclose to humans for fear of retribution," Juli explains.

That's what started the Kramer (K-9s Representing Alternative Modern Educational Resources) Program.

The 7-year-old program uses dogs, including Kramer's offspring, in kids' therapy and education.

It started with Kramer. He could melt any kid's tough-guy facade. Boundaries disappeared. The truth came out.

He made everyone feel equal. He taught morals and values, helped kids stay in school and probably saved lives.

That's one special dog.

He has a special owner. Juli doesn't just love animals. They are her life. Have been since she was a kid, growing up with five siblings in Breesport and raising horses, dogs and cats.

As an adult, she moved to a rural town of Veteran home to have room for all the dogs and animals she has raised and rescued.

She rescued Kramer from a bad home. He was a skinny and frightened 18-month-old sack of skin and ribs when he came into Juli's life in 1998.

Rottweilers have a bad rap of being vicious and violent. Not Kramer. It's not the breed of dog. It's how they're raised.

Kramer never bit or snapped at anyone. He let kids sit and climb on him, tugging at his ears, fur and tail. He knew they were just playing.

Kramer had patience and personality.

Juli had the love and dedication to teach him how to share those attributes.

"He doesn't do any tricks," Juli says. "He just loves."

There was nothing like a big slobbery Kramer kiss to let you know you're loved -- a lick of adoration that left kids giggling for more.

That's why so many of them wanted to spend time with Kramer. He had status.

"The kids called him 'The Man', " Julie explains. "Because he's Kramer. He's The Man."

Kids who couldn't or didn't want to read, loved sitting and reading to The Man. He didn't make fun of their stuttering. Never called them stupid.

Kids who improved their grades, came to school every day and stayed out of trouble could take Kramer for a walk, brush him or sit with him on the bench in front of school. The cat's meow.

Kramer shared his charms in group homes, nursing homes and counseling agencies.

He walked in parades, appeared at Easter egg hunts, dances and Halloween festivals.

The kids formed "Team Kramer" year after year and raised more than $30,000 for local animal shelters, charities and disease cure research.

Kramer worked 12- to 14- hour days. He was always excited about getting into Juli's patrol car the next morning to do it all over again.

He loved car rides, chasing the vacuum cleaner, playing catch and busting balloons.

Then he got sick in March -- diagnosed with inoperable throat cancer.

The vet said he had a few months left. But K-man hung on.

He lost weight, had trouble getting around and started throwing up. Julie tended to him, feeding him boiled chicken -- one of the few foods he could keep down.

As Kramer got sicker, Juli turned the living room couch into his bed. He had always slept on the floor next to Juli's bed.

As he grew worse, Juli knew she had to make a heart-wrenching decision -- to put her best friend out of his misery.

"He'll tell me when it's time," she said six months ago.

He told her last Saturday.

"I don't know how to explain it to you," Juli says.

"It was the look on his face. A look of peace. I knew it was time."

That night Juli slept on the couch, with Kramer on the floor next to her.

"He wouldn't leave my side," she explains.

The next day she called the veterinarian to come give Kramer the shot that would end his suffering.

He died under his favorite willow tree where he loved to rest in the cool shade. He died with his head in Juli's lap.

"She gave him the shot and that was it," Juli says. "It was very peaceful."

This one's for you, K-man. You won't be forgotten.

[JuneyB]

Oh.....that is so wonderful to read about Kramer...but so sad....but so awesome.... I am stuttering....

Thank you SOOOO much for posting...I only wish more people could know about dogs like Kramer.

Have fun at the Bridge Kramer...you have earned it!!!

[TR Young]

Oh my... that story takes place nearly in my back yard. I grew up in NorthCentral PA, near the town of Westfield, which is 30 minutes from Horseheads. I wish I had known about Kramer; I'd have loved to go to an event that he was at.
Rest easy, good boy.

[EmmysMom]

Yes, he sounded like a rottie any of us would have been proud to own!

[2rotties2luv]

Well, 3 people have come by my desk and asked me what is wrong because I'm crying. I know about the magic these dogs can do because two of my rotties worked as therapy dogs. I am convinced that well trained and socialized rotties with good temperments are one of the best breeds to use for this type of work. Their intelligence and ability to read people and sense what is needed is truly awsome. This is a wonderful story about a wonderful dog - another angel that came to earth in a dog's body.

[EmmysMom]

"This is a wonderful story about a wonderful dog - another angel that came to earth in a dog's body."


Couldn't have said it any better!
EmmysMom

[observer]

What an incredible story. This is one that should be spread as far and wide as possible.

What a Rottie angel he will continue to be for his owner and everyone he helped on earth.

Here's a link about the K.R.A.M.E.R. program, with pics of this great dog.

KRAMER K-9? / Canine? Dog Program & School Safety

[2rotties2luv]

The email address of Juli Lathrop, Kramer's owner, appears at the very end of the article in observer's link. I am going to send her a letter of condolance tonight.

[EmmysMom]

"I am going to send her a letter of condolance tonight."

That is a great idea, I think I will do the same!

[gail pang]

Oh how wonderful. What a great ambassador for our rotties.
The tears just will not stop. An angel is just what he is, I do
feel sorry for the owner.

Kramer you are with the best at the bridge. When you meet
Rufus he will be glad to share his Chicago Police stories with you.

[kerry]

A wonderful story...short of the ending...but there always has to be an ending I guess..at least for this chapter..Thank-you for posting...Once more....truly an angel...Rest in Peace Kramer...Please give my Wolfgang one of those big Kramer kisses... tell him it's from mamma...

[StephanieandToby]

RIP Kramer....

[KatMc]

How sad, what a great fellow he turned out to be.

Regardless of how he started out in life, it sounds like Fate brought him to his true calling.

RIP Kramer,

Kathy

[rottnkidd]

I had sent a note to Deputy Lathrop back on Sept 20th. Tonight I received a nice acknowledgement from her along with a pic of Kramer's "kids". Deouty Lathrop stated that over 500 were in attendance at Kramer's memorial service. I am going to email her for permission to put the pic on the forums.
If she approves I will post the pic here if the moderator's allow it.
kathy

[tcote]

This is a wonderful story about a wonderful dog. Thanks for posting it. What a great breed we have...I'm sending her a note also...