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Second sad loss for K9 unit as patrol dog Bentley succumbs to cancer
Handler – Sergeant Wallace Kettledas
The K9 Unit in Gqeberha has suffered yet another loss after K9 Bentley had to be euthanized after suffering from cervical spondylosis.Earlier this month his fellow K9 officer Mufasa was laid to rest after succumbing to cancer.Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says Bentley and Mufasa were best friends and the loss of his partner was too much to bear.She says the two German Shepherds graduated from training school together and became patrolling partners with their handlers in Gqeberha.Naidu says when Mufasa was laid to rest, Bentley was left heartbroken and his health took a sudden turn for the worse.She says the state vet in Pretoria said his due to his advanced deterioration, it was best to let him go.Bentley was sadly euthanized and laid to rest on 23 November. His handler, Sergeant Wallace Kettledas had been working together since 2016 and had an enviable bond.Colonel Naidu says this year alone, Bentley achieved a total of 16 positive tackles and arrests not to mention his skills in sniffing out weapons and explosives.In 2022, Bentley and Sgt Ketteldas won the Provincial Excellence Award for best K9 dog and handler for most tackles.Colonel Naidu says the memory of Bentley and Mufasa continues to inspire new generations of police dogs and handlers, reminding everyone that even in the face of loss, the bonds we forge can create a legacy that transcends time.
