Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
Photo Courtesy of Marion Police Department Utos, an 8-year-old German shepherd who worked with the Marion Police Department, was put to sleep Friday due to a heart condition.
Utos, an 8-year-old German shepherd who worked with the Marion Police Department for four years, was euthanized Friday after it was determined he was suffering from a genetic heart condition.
Police Chief Kevin Schultz announced the news in a statement Monday.
Utos and Officer Eric Krause were a certified K-9 team. Utos had been with the Krause family for four years.
Schultz said that Krause first noticed a difference in Utos’ breathing on Dec. 14 when the dog was not interested in going to work.
Krause took Utos to a veterinarian in Clintonville. Tests for blastomycosis were negative, and it was thought some other type of infection was the problem.
Krause then took Utos, who had stopped eating, to an animal hospital in Appleton. They gave him fluids and treated him.
On Friday, more tests revealed Utos was suffering from a heart condition and that he was in cardiac failure.
“Utos did many good things,” Schultz said. “He helped with drug arrests. On his final shift ,Utos assisted with apprehending an attempted homicide suspect in the Clintonville area.”
Schultz said the department always planned to replace Utos when he retired, but there were no earlier indications he was ill.
“They say that the dog will let you know when that time came, but Utos had not slowed down at all,” Schultz said.