Heroic police dog passes away, celebrated by co-workers
Kojak was an incredible public servant dog that served the Nelson Mandela Bay police force. RIP, little guy.
It is never a good day when your beloved canine friend passes away.
Police in the Port Elizabeth region were left to mourn their faithful servant of nine years when it succumbed to a brain tumour over the weekend.
Kojak, a German Shepherd, was a vital part of the Mandela Bay K9 unit and formed a close working relationship with his handler, Ettiene Gerber. The pair had worked closely together for almost a decade, and throughout that time Kojak recovered 275 bodies.
While addressing the media, Kojak's handler shared a heartfelt message to his best friend: “It’s like losing a child. We are all shattered and have lost a member of our family. It was a very difficult decision to make to have him put down, and I am deeply saddened by his loss. Police dogs are our silent heroes who give tirelessly of themselves without the need for recognition.”
This emotional story takes us back to the day Army Specialist Vance McFarland was reunited with his former Tactical Explosive Detection Dog, thanks to the Mission K9 Rescue.
Bring on the tissues!