Heartbreak has swept a community after heroic police dog Dino died during shocking football riots outside a heated clash, but the true cause of his tragic end isn’t what you might expect
Heartbreak has swept through a community after a heroic police dog was killed. The incident unfolded during shocking football riots.
Dino, a five-year-old Belgian Malinois, died while bravely helping officers break up violent clashes between rival fans. However, the real cause of his tragic death may surprise you.
As tributes pour in for this much-loved canine hero, questions remain over exactly what happened in those chaotic moments outside the stadium. Dino from the Metz, France, canine unit, died on Sunday (January 25).
He died during confrontations between supporters outside the Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and Olympique Lyonnais, “probably as a result of cardiac arrest”.
Dino’s name is now known across Metz. While the football match itself was notable for a hat-trick by Brazilian player Endrick, the atmosphere outside the stadium was marred by fights between supporters of the two clubs.
The Metz canine unit was reportedly called in as reinforcements to break up the violence. Dino came into contact with a group of troublemakers “twice, but without being struck, it’s very important to clarify that,” David Ghisleri, representative of the Alliance Police Nationale union in Moselle, told French news outlet Le Progrès.
It was during this intervention that Dino collapsed: “probably as a result of cardiac arrest”, the officer added. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances and cause of death.
“There is a partnership behind every canine unit, a strong bond between an officer and their partner,” Alliance Police Nationale 57 wrote on social media. “The loss of a service dog is a painful ordeal for the whole team,”
“One of our own has gone,” added David Ghisleri. In happier K9 news, A police dog has been drummed out of the force aged two because she is too lazy to work last year.
Lissy the Labrador has been “retired” after showing signs she was reluctant to do her job of detecting firearms and cash. Police chiefs showed her the door for “work avoidance”.
But the lazy lab is unlikely to see it as punishment. She has been retired as a pet to a loving forever home.
The pooch had been with Lancashire Police Constabulary September 2023 and undergone extensive training to root out illicit weapons and money. Most police dogs retire between the ages of seven and 10.
However, Lissy did not make it to veteran stage, the Daily Star previously reported. Springer spaniel Oakley has been trained up to take her place on the front line.
A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “Lissy has hung up her harness for the last time. Lissy had been showing signs of avoidance when working and wasn’t 100% happy so she has been retired to a loving home.
“Be happy Lissy.’’
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