Sad news from Saskatchewan. The Saskatoon Police Service is mourning the loss of Matrix, a talented young police service dog killed after being hit by a car.
The two-year-old bomb sniffing dog was preparing for a training exercise on April 30 when the accident happened, according to police. It was around 9:45 p.m. when Matrix and his handler were in field on the west side of Warman Road behind Woodlawn Cemetery when Matrix was struck by a vehicle.
Inspector Mitch Yuzdepski told reporters that the dog’s handler doesn’t know why Matrix ran onto the road.
“All I know is he lost sight of the dog momentarily and the tragic result was that he was involved in a collision,” he said at a press conference.
The dog’s handler rushed Matrix to the university veterinary clinic, but he died of his injuries not long after, police said. The driver was shaken up, but wasn’t to blame for what happened.
SPS K9,Matrix, was tragically killed in an accident last night preparing for a training exercise. Lost is a partner,friend and family member
— Saskatoon Police (@SaskatoonPolice) May 1, 2015
Specialized in bomb detection training, Matrix had been in active duty since last August.
The police service posted this note to its Facebook page when Matrix finished his training.
“On July 31, Matrix, completed his training and is now a fully operational member of the Canine Unit. Matrix is a 15-month old Belgian Malinois, a breed that is a first for the SPS. In just a few days on the job, he has already assisted in the arrest of two persons, and recovered property in a third instance!”
