Died – 12/23/16
Handler – Officer Eric Krause
Marion police dog dies after heart failure
On Sunday Dec 11 Utos was called out to assist in a track of an attempted murder and kidnapping suspect that had fled on foot from police. K9 Utos assisted in tracking the suspect for several miles across fields woods and yards. During the track Both handler and K9 had broken through ice. They continued to track for another half mile and turned over tracking to other teams and after several more miles several k9 teams and a drone the suspect was caught. The next day Utos was exhausted. On Dec 13, Utos was still tired and rested. On Wednesday he returned to work and Utos didn’t want to go to work. He was observed with breathing fast and seemed weak. He was taken to Clintonville Vet Hospital. Blood work and X-rays were taken and Utos was suspected to have Blasto. Treatments and blasto tests were sent out. Over the following days Utos continued to have difficulties breathing and stopped eating. Utos continued to get weaker and lost more weight. Test results returned and the blasto tests were negative. k9 Utos returned to the vet and his blood counts improved but Utos was so drained from fighting this infection the vet said his outlook is very grim. The staff from the vet hospital has been in contact with numerous specialists trying to get treatment ideas and the consensus is that everything that can be done is being done. Utos was given iv’s and was on oral and injection meds at home. Police dog Utos was euthanized Friday after the discovery that he was suffering from a genetic heart condition, Police Chief Kevin Schultz said Monday. Utos was 8 years old. He and Marion police officer Eric Krause became a certified K-9 team in 2012. “Together the K-9 team made multiple arrests for drugs, assisted in apprehending criminals on the run, and was able to locate missing children,” Schultz said in a statement. ” “Utos was not only a great police K-9 dog and a member of the police department family, but a member of officer Krause’s family where he lived and spent his free time while not on duty.” Schultz said a memorial is being planned.