Five police dogs died over past five years

Five police dogs have died in Northern Ireland over the past five years with one German Shepherd going mad in 2013 and having to be put down after it became aggressive towards its handler.

By The Newsroom

Published 26th Feb 2016, 17:15 BST

Updated 26th Feb 2016, 17:26 BST

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.

In 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.

Northern Ireland PSNI