Advertisement

Winnipeg Police Service dog Dante dies

Click to play video: 'Dante, retired Winnipeg Police dog, serving at Bell MTS Place'
Dante, retired Winnipeg Police dog, serving at Bell MTS Place
WATCH: Dante's handler Dave Bessason describes the training given to prepare for service on the canine explosive ordnance disposal team. Dante, and other police dogs, patrolled Bell MTS Place since the start of the 2017 hockey season – Dec 18, 2018

One of Winnipeg’s canine finest has passed away.

Police Service Dog Dante died Monday, about a year and a half after he retired from the Winnipeg Police Service.

He and his handler, Sgt. David Bessason, retired on May 27, 2017.

Dante was born Feb. 3, 2009 in the US, along with his litter-mate, Mya, who is also a police service dog. The Belgian Malinois puppies came to Winnipeg later that year and were raised and trained by Bessason, said police.

Dante’s specialty was sniffing out bombs — he was an Explosives Detector Dog for the service until he retired.

Story continues below advertisement

After his retirement from the WPS, Dante and his partner worked for True North Sports and Entertainment, where he and fellow explosives detector dog Daisy delighted fans and helped keep them safe.

“Bell MTS Place patrons have welcomed them as True North canine ambassadors and the dogs love interacting with crowd,” Bessason said in 2017.

Sponsored content

AdChoices