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Died – 1/12/16
Handler – Sgt. Alec Porter
Plaistow force mourns death of Kraken, the police dog
The Plaistow Police Department is mourning the loss of its recently retired K-9, Kraken.The police dog that had a successful seven-year career before battling health problems and retiring early was put down Tuesday with his handler, Sgt. Alec Porter, by his side.“He was a good dog,” Police Chief Kathleen Jones said.Kraken was described as a hard-working dog that helped with search and rescues, drug detection and provided other assistance, including protection for Porter, who cared for him at home.“He helped us with a lot of cases. His skills were especially strong in narcotics detection,” Jones said.Kraken retired in August after health problems prevented him from passing his recertification and testing to continue in his role as a police K-9.
During his service, Kraken was a popular furry face on the force and was known in the Plaistow community. He would often make appearances at community events, and helped educate people about his work through demonstrations.“He was a well-loved member of our department and a well-loved member of our community,” Jones said.Kraken’s date of death will soon be added to a K-9 memorial located in front of the town’s public safety complex.The department has been without a K-9 since Kraken was retired, but Jones said a fundraising campaign will likely begin to help purchase and train a new dog.In the meantime, Plaistow will rely on other agencies when a police K-9 is needed to track missing people or sniff out drugs.
