The Massachusetts State Police is mourning a special member of their team: Dante, a nine-year veteran of the K-9 unit.
Dante was the partner of Trooper Christopher Coscia, who posted an emotional obituary about his beloved companion after having to put the German shepherd to sleep this week.
"Most dogs are just dogs, but you sometimes run into ones that are somehow as much human as they are dog," Coscia wrote of Dante.
Dante was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a condition that prevented enough oxygen from getting to his lungs and causing him to collapse.
Before falling ill, Dante tracked murderers and drugs across the state, Coscia said.
"He was able to locate and assist in the seizure of more than 1,000 grams of heroin, more than 8,600 grams of cocaine (one seizure alone of more than 7 lbs. that had been canned mechanically), more than 1,000 lbs. of marijuana, and more than $14,000,000 in cash," Coscia wrote.
Dante was also very intelligent and figured out how to open doors, Coscia recalled.
"One day when I was out with him I made the mistake of teaching him to open the cruiser door -- a task which took five minutes once I showed him how. From that, Dante figured out that doors open with handles, and all you have to do is grab them with your mouth and pull or turn," Coscia wrote.
Dante lived with Coscia and his family.
Dante was the partner of Trooper Christopher Coscia, who posted an emotional obituary about his beloved companion after having to put the German shepherd to sleep this week.
"Most dogs are just dogs, but you sometimes run into ones that are somehow as much human as they are dog," Coscia wrote of Dante.
Dante was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a condition that prevented enough oxygen from getting to his lungs and causing him to collapse.
Before falling ill, Dante tracked murderers and drugs across the state, Coscia said.
"He was able to locate and assist in the seizure of more than 1,000 grams of heroin, more than 8,600 grams of cocaine (one seizure alone of more than 7 lbs. that had been canned mechanically), more than 1,000 lbs. of marijuana, and more than $14,000,000 in cash," Coscia wrote.
Dante was also very intelligent and figured out how to open doors, Coscia recalled.
"One day when I was out with him I made the mistake of teaching him to open the cruiser door -- a task which took five minutes once I showed him how. From that, Dante figured out that doors open with handles, and all you have to do is grab them with your mouth and pull or turn," Coscia wrote.
Dante lived with Coscia and his family.
