DODGEVILLE (WKOW) -- A decorated police dog that helped officers seize more than $700,000 worth of marijuana one year ago in Iowa County was euthanized, even though the animal had no health issues.
Iowa County Sheriff Steve Michek told 27 News the department's Belgian Malinois named Ava was put down because the animal had become unreliable, especially around the public.
Authorities said Ava was involved in a January 2011 traffic stop, where officers discovered more than 186 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of a car near Barneveld.
Michek said Ava and her deputy handler were recognized for their work in drug interdiction in 2009 by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association.
Former association president Captain Jay Johnson of the Greenfield Police Department told 27 News canines in police work who exhibit aggression are sometimes returned to animal behavior experts for re-training. Johnson also said aging police dogs are retired and customarily given to their law enforcement handlers to become strictly family pets.
Michek said authorities intended to retire eight-year-old Ava, but Michek made the decision to have the dog destroyed instead.
Michek said no recent bite case prompted his decision to have the police dog euthanized. Michek acknowledged a past bite case involving the dog, but declined to provide any specifics of what happened. Despite the biting episode, Michek said the dog continued to work at the department up until the animal was destroyed.
In 2010 in Edgerton, a police dog bit and disabled a city employee. City officials decided to return the animal to its civilian trainer.
Michek said options other euthanasia were considered for Ava.
Iowa County Sheriff's officials adopted Ava five years ago from the Greensboro, North Carolina Police Department.
Greensboro police spokesperson Susan Danielson told 27 News Ava was made available for adoption because the dog was no longer safe to work in contact with the public because of aggression.
Danielson said police officials believed the dog could serve in narcotics enforcement elsewhere if closely monitored.
Officials involved with police dogs said the purchase of the highly-trained animals typically costs law enforcement agencies approximately $15,000. Michek said obtaining Ava cost a fraction of that sum. Last year, Iowa County Sheriff's officials added a second police dog of the same breed from a North Carolina trainer for $14,000.
