Missing police dog found safe in California

Niko, a Fremont police dog that escaped from its yard sometime Friday night, was found hiding in a San Jose creek bed Sunday morning, according to police.

The dog – named Niko – escaped from his secure yard in San Jose’s Willow Glen area between 10 p.m. and midnight Saturday, police said.

San Jose and Fremont police officers as well as Santa Clara police search-and-rescue crews participated in the search for the black-and-tan German Shepherd.

Niko was eventually spotted along a creekside around 11 a.m. Sunday by a San Jose police sergeant. “We responded and made a perimeter, just in case he ran off”, said Sgt.

“The dog went outside like it normally does, and the owner fell asleep on his couch”, Bosques said.

Having spent only a few weeks with Fremont police, Niko is the department’s newest police dog. According to Niko’s handlers, the dog was trained in Czech Republic and his natural instinct is to return home.