An active duty Boston Police K-9 officer had to be put down after inhaling and/or ingesting chemicals on the job.
K-9 Rush, a four-year-old German Shepherd, was clearing a building after a call of a breaking and entering in progress on September 23 when he inadvertently inhaled and/or ingested chemicals which caused an ulceration to his mouth and respiratory distress hours later. His condition worsened and he developed aspiration pneumonia and wasn’t eating.
The department supported him as he underwent eight days of hospitalization and treatment. His K-9 handler later made the heart-wrenching decision to put him down on Monday because he would never be able to enjoy a substantial quality of life.
K-9 Rush was born on December 7, 2013. He joined the Boston Police K-9 Unit on September 15, 2015.
K-9 Rush and his handler were assigned to the midnight shift providing patrol and narcotic detection services to the Boston Police and neighboring communities and agencies. In addition to searching for suspects, drugs, weapons and evidence, K-9 Rush participated in security details for events such as the Caribbean Festival, Sail Boston, the Boston Marathon and events at Fenway Park.
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