Palo Alto Police K-9 Passes: Goodbye, Dag

PALO ALTO - They say dogs are a man’s best friend. For a police officer, a K-9 dog is much more than a good friend. A good K-9 can save an officer’s life.

Palo Alto Police today announced Dag, the department’s K-9 dog, passed away in December due to a bad heart.

The department issued the following statement on its Facebook page:

“It’s with a heavy heart that we announce that one of our beloved K-9 partners, Dag, passed away at the end of December after becoming afflicted with a serious heart condition.

Dag and his partner, Officer Carlos De Santiago, were a dedicated team who served our community for over five years. Dag was a tireless partner who would eagerly go into harm’s way first and stay there the longest. Whenever they arrived at a scene, they brought confidence and strength to the mission.

In the course of their career, Officer De Santiago and Dag teamed up to arrest dozens of serious criminals. They also would respond to calls for help in neighboring cities when there was a crime in-progress.

Police canines hold a very special place in a patrol officer’s heart. They are fearless, selfless, dedicated, and motivated. We will all miss Dag, but we will also always be proud of his service. Dag passed away peacefully with his family and friends by his side.

Thank you, Dag. It was an honor for all of us to serve with you.”

Police added the video tribute to Dag seen above, produced by one of their officers.

-image via Palo Alto PD Facebook