Puma

Handler: Joe Christians
Breed: Belgian Malinois
DOB: 8/12/2002
Department: Palatine Police Department
Function: Narcotics Detection, Patrol
Years Worked: 11/2014 – 9/2021

K9 Puma is a Belgian Malinois who was born on 08/02/2012 in Europe, and she was imported by F.M.K9. K9 Puma joined the Palatine Police Dept. when she and Ofc. Christians were paired up and trained for 6 weeks at F.M.K9. K9 Puma is the first female K9 in the Palatine Police Department’s history. Puma is trained in narcotics and patrol work and served the village of Palatine for 7 years. During K9 Puma’s service she tracked to lost subjects, apprehended car burglars, and seized large amounts of narcotics and cash.

Update 2024: K9 Puma is currently 12 years old and is enjoying retirement by spending time with her younger human brother and sister. Although K9 Puma believes in her mind she is about 2 years old, her body says otherwise. K9 Puma stays fit by hiking in a local Lake County Forest Preserve dog park, and enjoys winter activities of playing in the snow and hiking on the frozen ice. K9 Puma is getting back into K9 group training by visiting and training with active area K9s to keep her mind and old skills sharp just for fun!

Update 2025: K9 Puma has been working on enjoying relaxing in retirement, which is tough to do. Puma has been aging well, but starting to show signs of slowing down. She has been continuing to cheer on her old K9 friends at K9 group training occasionally, and enjoys a long morning walk with the random trip to get ice cream with the family.