Related Articles
Died 10/31/18
Handler – Lt. Michael Collins
Perry community mourns death of Village Police Department K-9 Zack
The unexpected death of Perry Village Police Department K-9 Zack is drawing an outpouring of sympathy, gratitude and prayers on Facebook. Zack, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, died on the afternoon of Oct. 31 after exercising with his partner, village Police Lt. Michael Collins. “It is with a heavy heart that the Perry Village Police Department has to announce the passing of our new K-9, Zack,” a post on the Perry Village Ohio Facebook page stated. Zack, who joined the village Police Department in June 2017, and Collins had gone to Lee Lydic Park in the village at about 4 p.m. prior to a scheduled visit to a day care center, Police Chief Troy Hager said. To help Zack release some pent-up energy before his guest appearance, Collins had taken him to the park and was tossing a tennis ball, which Zach would run after and retrieve, Hager said. After retrieving the tennis ball for about the fifth or sixth time, Zack laid down, Hager said.
Moments after he was loaded into a police vehicle, he became unresponsive, the Perry Village Ohio Facebook post stated. He then was rushed to North Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Madison Township, where he was pronounced dead. News of Zack’s death was posted at about 6 p.m. Oct. 31, and by 2:30 Nov. 1, nearly 800 visitors had left comments paying tribute to the K-9 and offering condolences to Collins. “Lt. Collins is aware of the outpouring on Facebook and would like to thank everyone for their support,” Hager said on the morning of Nov. 1.
