A Minnesota police dog died on Monday (Dec. 19) after a fire at his handler’s house. Neither K9 Kyro, who was about to turn two years old, nor the family’s other two dogs survived, per a statement from the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.
All Three Family Dogs Died
On Monday afternoon, responders attended a house fire in the rural Nessel Township, and found the home “engulfed in flames”. K9 Deputy Nate Fisher and his family weren’t home at the time, and are all safe. However, the three dogs all sadly died.
“This evening Chisago County deputies, along with many local agencies, escorted K9 Kyro to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital in Arden Hill,” said the statement. “K9 Kyro will be prepared for a proper goodbye with details to follow.
“We are forever grateful for K9 Deputy Kyro’s service and he will not be forgotten,” it concluded.
Cpt. Derek Anklan said that it’s thought a wood-burning stove was likely to have caused the fire.
“That becomes another partner on their team, becomes somebody they rely on and a lot of really critical life and death situations,” Anklan said, per CBS News. “When you take that partner away overnight unexpected, it’s really hard.”
Fundrasing for the Family
Laurie Blank, treasurer for the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, set up a GoFundMe on behalf of the family. As well as their dogs, the family lost all of their belongings in the fire.
Heather, K9 Deputy Fisher’s wife, shared a message to the GoFundME. “Benny said if he could have anything for Christmas it would be to have his puppies back,” she said. She also shared photos of the late pets on the GoFundMe.
Friends and well-wishers have raised $120,000 of the $150,000 raised at the time of writing. Heather wrote that “We are overwhelmed in an amazing way with the amount of love, messages, support, monetary funds, gift cards…just everything. I don’t know what we have done to deserve all of your love and support, but thank you really just isn’t enough to express our gratitude”.
If you wish to donate to the GoFundMe, you can find it here.
