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Died 7/3/23
Beloved police dog dies after ingesting drugs during investigation
A Woodstock police dog has died in the line of duty. The dog, Taz, was assisting with a drug investigation Monday when it ingested drugs during a search. The dog was given anti-overdose medication and taken to a veterinarian clinic before it died, police say. Another police dog, Striker, also consumed drugs in the search but has returned home after also being taken to the clinic, police say. Taz joined the Woodstock police canine unit and began his training in 2021 and was started assisting in investigations last year.“He was young but respected throughout the canine community, as he had developed into an outstanding detection dog,” Woodstock Police officials said in a statement. Taz assisted with a number of arrests, drugs and weapons investigations, missing persons probes and community service engagements, police said. Added police officials: “Taz was well loved and cared for and will be greatly missed by his family, the entire Woodstock Police Service, his canine friends and all of the groomers, vets and therapists who worked closely with him.” The probe that led to Taz’s death involved Woodstock police helping Stratford police officers. Charges have been laid in connection with the dog’s death, Woodstock police said, though they deferred questions to Stratford police. A similar incident occurred in London roughly a year ago. It was May 2022 when London police said a K9 officer required three days of veterinary care after coming into contact with drugs while tracking down suspects when police were called about armed men near downtown. Police officials described the situation as “life-threatening” but the dog recovered.
