Five police dogs died over past five years
Another dog injured its paw during rioting in 2013 but survived. The total bill for treating the PSNI pack between 2010/11 and 2015/16 was £127,963.93. There are currently 45 operational police dogs working for the PSNI.
In relation to the dog deaths the PSNI confirmed that in both 2011 and 2012 a single German Shepherd died, one from an unrecoverable strangulated intestine and the other from a heart condition.
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Hide AdIn 2013 one German Shepherd died after fracturing its leg as a result of a genetic bone disorder and another, the aforementioned mad dog, developed a neurological condition, which affected its temperament.
Last year a Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) had a seizure and died.