The Associated Press
BEND, Ore. — After Koda escaped from his kennel, he chewed through the dog food stored in the sheriff’s department patrol car.
Then he started in on the seats.
Apparently, deputies say, he choked on the foam.
The 2-year-old Belgian malinois died this week, just a few months after joining Deschutes County deputies as a patrol dog.
The department concluded that the deputy who was Koda’s handler was NOT negligent. The captain says the handler is devastated.
Grief counseling was made available to the officer.
Officials say they’re not sure why Koda ate the car seats — but it could have been boredom because police dogs are high-drive dogs.
The Belgian malinois resembles a German shepherd but is smaller.