Bronze Star combat dog Mike shot dead by bicyclist in Wyoming

The two worked to detect explosives and hunt insurgents over a 16-month period, which earned the duo two Bronze Stars.

A friend was staying at Bessler’s house and was watching Mike and Bessler’s other dog Ziva.

Last Saturday when Mike was shot, a bicyclist claimed the dog had been part of a pack that approached him, making him feel “threatened”.

The biker said he felt threatened and had no choice but to shoot.

The 9-year-old Belgian Malionis named Mike was a service dog for former soldier Matthew Bessler who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury after serving six times overseas. The man said he had stopped near the property of Mike’s owner, Matthew Bessler, and had defended himself with his bike before he pulled out his gun.

The Park County Sheriff’s Office has not cited the 59-year-old cyclist, who was not injured in the incident, for any wrongdoing, according to the Powell Tribune.

A veteran is fighting to get a military funeral for a combat dog that was fatally shot last weekend.

The retired Staff Sergeant said: ‘I would like to take a civil avenue to go after him – the gentleman that shot him – because Mike was a retired military officer.

Mike served with Bessler in Iraq in the U.S. Army acting as a combat dog and in bomb detection. His handler and best friend, Matthew Bessler, is requesting a military burial for Mike. “He can help take the focus and help change the focus of what’s going on with me and help me calm down or relax me”, Bessler told the Billings Gazette.

Mike was outside of Bessler’s home in the small town of Powell, Wyoming while Bessler was hunting in the mountains.

“He has his story, I have mine”.

“I mean, it’s way too soon”, Bessler said.

“In my mind, it’s inconsistent with a dog that’s attacking somebody”, Bessler told the Tribune. Additionally, neighbors reported they heard no barking or sounds of distress prior to the gunshots.

“That’s not being fair to the dog, not being fair to that partner who’s stood beside me forever”, he said, crying. “It was just a gunshot”. Rest in peace Mike; you deserve a military burial.

“I just wanted to know how”, he told the paper a few days after Mike’s death.

All the funds left over from the money raised will be donated to an organization for war veterans.