An Oro Valley police dog died Wednesday, after being treated for an undisclosed illness, police said.
"'Lara's' 5 years of service will not be forgotten," Oro Valley police wrote in a post on its Facebook page. "Her outstanding work earned her and her handler the distinction of being the lead... K-9 team for the Pima Regional Bomb Squad."
The 8-year-old Belgium Malinois passed away yesterday morning at a veterinary clinic with her handler by her side.
'Lara had' been sick recently and was being treated by a vet, the post said.
Since she joined the force in 2011, 'Lara' and her handler conducted thousands of bomb sweeps for law enforcement operations, dignitary protection detail and special events.
During a 2014 operation, 'Lara' sniffed out explosive material in a suspicious car parked outside the Oro Valley Hospital, leading to the seizure of one pound of "highly explosive material," weapons and fireworks. Her work helped aid in the arrest of the suspects, the post said.
