Posted on 07/08/2023 5:55:16 PM PDT by nickcarraway
K-9 Kona was "struck by a vehicle and crawled into a vineyard where he succumbed to his injuries," Police Chief Jose Garza said
Reedley Police have announced an end to the search for Kona, the department K-9 that had been missing since July 4.
“We have found him,” Police Chief Jose Garza wrote in a social media post Thursday night.
“Unfortunately, the outcome is not what we had hoped for. It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of his passing.”
Officers from several law enforcement agencies, with the help of the public, had been looking for the 10-year-old German shepherd since he escaped from his handler’s home in Visalia on Tuesday. According to police, Kona was found just outside of Visalia in the 14000 block of Avenue 280, in an area where they had previously found the dog’s tracker.
“It appears that Kona was struck by a vehicle,” Garza wrote, ”and crawled into a vineyard, where he succumbed to his injuries.”
The California Highway Patrol has been contacted to evaluate whether a hit-and-run report will be taken, and Reedley Police will continue its investigation into the original escape. So far, police said Kona escaped from the garage where he was being kept after fireworks were set off nearby.
Surveillance footage showed Kona then broke through wooden fence panels to flee the backyard, according to the post on Thursday.
COMMUNITY CONDOLENCES
Condolences quickly poured in from hundreds of people as news of the death began spreading via social media. Responding to a post from the Fresno Police Department, one user wrote “I’m so sorry Kona. This is a loud scary world. I’m so sorry you were alone! RIP handsome boy.”
Another wrote: “Absolutely heartbreaking. Praying for his handler and those in the department.”
Several commenters questioned the responsibility of the handler and wondered why the dog was in a garage and not indoors during the Fourth of July.
The department meanwhile, thanked the community for its support both during and after the search.
“Your dedication and compassion were truly inspiring during this challenging time,” Chief Garza wrote.
“Please take a moment to remember Kona and keep his handler in your thoughts during this difficult period of grief and loss. We hope that he and his family find solace in knowing how many people cared deeply about the safe return of Kona.”
A different police dog climbed out of his chain link kennel 6 or 8’ tall. In Fresno like a week before this dog... Fresno is just about 25-30 miles from Reedly.
I got a rescue a few months ago...really big boy...maybe 2 years old. Even though fireworks are illegal in the city where I live, idiots shoot them off all day and night anyway.
Not knowing how the my dog would react, I gave him OTC sedatives for dogs. I kept him inside most of the day, and at dusk closed all the windows in the house and kept him with me in the bedroom. When the fireworks got real heavy, even with the sedatives he got very worked up.
Keep your dogs inside when there is fireworks...
It’s amazing — our 20 pound GoldenDoodle isn’t bothered one bit by fireworks or loud noises. He doesn’t panic, get scared or act nervous at all.
Of course, his bark is loud enough to drown out the loudest of any noises. He must read 120 dB.
Sounds like negligent homicide of a police officer by the handlers.
And will the officer responsible for the dog be brought up on any charges? Seems like a rash of officers killing officer k9s lately.
Why the hell was this dog in the garage and not inside with the handler and its family????
Well, since police dogs are considered human officers, how is the driver who hit him not a murderer?
Cops and dogs don’t mix
They don’t take care of their own dogs and they shoot other people’s pets
Poor Kona. At first, I wondered why a 10 year old dog would still have wanderlust strong enough to break out of his safe environment and lose himself to fate. Then the article reminded me; last Tuesday was our 4th of July.
Some dogs never get used to those sudden blasts, no matter how old they get. I didn’t know police dogs were still even on the job at that age, but apparently so.
Bingo
Good question. And K9s are supposed to be well trained, how does one wander off?
Other dogs I've had hated vacuums, but this puppy doesn't mind. The weird thing is she hates brooms. If I am sweeping, she goes crazy barking at the broom.
The only thing Cody really doesn’t like is the fake coyote I have in the yard to scare away the deer!
They are already looking for someone to pin "Murder of Officer" Kona on.
Reckless Endangerment causing Injury or Death to a Peace Officer
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW
My late male German shepherd developed a fear of thunder and fireworks around the age of 2. As a pup, it didn’t seem to bother him. His behavior during those times were not under his control - it was as if a demon was released inside him. No aggression, just plain fear. He would run from door to window trying to escape what was going on inside of him! I learned to cope by crating him and giving him Rescue Remedy (GNC) as soon as he started. His only safe places were in his crate or on my lap! Training had nothing to do with it. The dog cited above broke through a window and through wooden fence boards. That was fear - not “wnadering off”.
Scared of Fireworks I assume.
Long time ago I had a German Shepard jump though a glass window(single payne)on the 4th.
May Officer Kona rest in peace.
Fireworks suck. My dog gets so scared when some idiot sets them off. They are such a waste of money and they spread their trash everywhere. I always laugh when some idiot gets burned or otherwise hurt by them.
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