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Police dog Dakota, who appeared on the television series Dog Squad, died just three weeks after her retirement.
Police dog Dakota died on February 1. Source: rnz.co.nz
In a Facebook post titled ‘Farewell to a Favorite Floof,’ police said Dakota died last night, just three weeks after her retirement from the Wellington Police Dog Section.
The seven-year-old German shepherd worked in Wellington from April 2015 to January this year, primarily with handler Stu Rota.
The couple appeared on four Dog Squad television series, and police said she was also a famous Police Dog Trust Calendar girl.
Sergeant Rota moved to Gisborne and for the past 12 months worked with Sheriff Sam Bennett.
After retiring three weeks ago, he moved to Gisborne to live with Rota, which police said was supposed to be a “happy retirement.”
“Sadly, that ended on Friday when Dakota became very ill, was taken to the vets and died last night,” the Facebook post said.
“He had been diagnosed with Addison’s disease several years ago, but this was managed with medication and it did not prevent him from leading a very active operational patrol dog life.
“It is not yet clear if his condition shortened his retirement, but we do know that he enjoyed reuniting with his former partner.”
Rota said he was devastated because she was gone.
“She loved every minute she spent at home, her daily walks on the beach and hanging out with us. We will all miss her.”
The pair finished seventh in the 2018 National Police Dog Championship, and Dakota tracked down and made hundreds of captures over the years.
She also wowed the crowds at Wings Over Wairarapa when they pulled her out of an RNZAF NH90 helicopter and was used to traveling by boat as part of her training to respond to armed incidents.
