Fugitive police dog found after search in western mountain of Japan

KOBE – A police dog that escaped during an operation to locate a missing woman on a mountain in western Japan was found Tuesday after an extensive search.

The 2-year-old German shepherd, nicknamed Kureba-go, was discovered around 9:40 a.m. almost 2 days after escaping into the bush. Nagusa in Fukusaki, Hyogo prefecture, police said, adding that he was unharmed and well.

A total of 41 police officers were dispatched Tuesday morning to search for the dog, which was found near the top of the 683-meter mountain, about 100 meters southwest of where it disappeared.

The dog, about 120 centimeters long, was found on a leash wrapped around a tree and officers tried to calm him with pieces of bread and fish sausage. No one was injured and the reason he escaped is unknown, police said.

The dog was thrown out around 1:30 p.m. Sunday when an officer lost the leash. Hyogo prefectural police warned residents about the missing dog and asked for information.

He had been registered in late July last year as a police dog and described as having a “friendly” personality. The dog had been on duty since January and previously found 4 missing persons.

Police said they will deliberate on whether to continue working with the dog.

The search for the missing 54-year-old woman was prompted by a call from her family. His body was found Sunday afternoon by another police dog and his death was not viewed as suspicious.