MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami Gardens Police are searching for their K-9 partner after the dog bolted from a patrol vehicle and was later seen on surveillance video being struck by a car.
K-9 Gael went missing along the 200 block of Northwest 195th Street, where a K-9 officer had responded to a business alarm, at around 9:35 p.m. on Monday.
When Officer K. Stanley opened the rear door of her patrol vehicle, Gael bolted and ran eastbound across Northwest Second Avenue and did not respond to commands from his handler.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage showing the yellow Labrador racing through a tire shop after getting away from his handler.
Police said another surveillance clip they’re not sharing captured Gael being struck by a vehicle, but despite the impact, the dog continued moving eastbound.
All available Miami Gardens Police units, with assistance from Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Aviation, conducted an extensive search with no results.
Tuesday night, authorities paused their search and reopened the area after cordoning off the neighborhood for much of the afternoon.
“We’re not sure where the dog is at, We know it’s chipped, and we’re hoping that the public out there can help us locate this dog,” said Steadman Stahl with the Florida Police Benevolent Association.
Wednesday morning, officers went door to door passing out flyers and searching from above using drones.
“It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach right now that we are going door to door, knocking on doors, and we’re looking at video cameras to see if we could find out where this dog [went],” said Stahl.
Officials said Gael is approximately 2 and a half years old and weighs between 55 and 65 pounds. He has beige fur and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black collar with “Mama says I’m special” written on it.
Now Stanley and the rest of the police department are looking for Gael — not just a K-9, but one of their own — hoping someone can bring him home.
“A K-9 is an extension of our family, it’s part of our family, it’s part of the law enforcement community,” said Stahl. “It’s part of the Miami Gardens family, so we want to find that dog. We’re asking everybody, if you should see the dog, if you know where the whereabouts of the dog is at, please contact the Miami Gardens Police Department. Let’s get that dog back with the handler, and let’s get that dog back out there where it should be.”
Miami Gardens Police urge anyone with information on Gael’s whereabouts to call 305-474-2100.
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