Advertisement

Vancouver police dog Rebel dies suddenly

VPD canine officer Rebel passed away suddenly this week. Vancouver police Twitter

Vancouver police are mourning one of their own after a canine officer died suddenly.

Police tweeted about the sudden passing of Rebel, a German Shepherd who they described as a “warrior, friend and guardian of the night.”

In an emailed statement, Const. Jason Doucette said Rebel passed away suddenly on Thursday from “what appears to be an undetected medical condition while at the vet for unrelated, routine treatment.”

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

Rebel was a loved and valuable member of our K-9 unit and played an important role in making Vancouver a safe place to live work and visit. He will be missed.

He was born in February, 2009 and became a certified police service dog in March 2011.

Rebel gained some fame last year when he took down a thief who had stolen a child’s piggy bank.

Story continues below advertisement

He was also ‘Mr. September’ in this year’s police dog calendar.

“So, again, Rebel [is] not only using his modelling career to help with the calendar in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, but helping children of crimes as well,” Sgt. Brian Montague said in November.

There is still no word on what caused Rebel’s death.

Sponsored content

AdChoices