Retired military K9 shot, killed in Powell

Their work detecting explosives and hunting insurgents over a 16-month period earned the pair two Bronze Stars-one of military’s highest accolades, according to the Army.

Authorities say that the dog – whose name was Mike – got loose out of its owners yard. According to the bicyclist, he fired a single round of bird shot at the dog when he would not back down.

A spokesman for the local police department said: “Essentially, if you feel your life is in danger or threatened by an animal, you can act against it”.

A bomb-sniffing combat dog who earned two Bronze Stars during two tours in Iraq in a Special Operations Forces unit was shot dead by a bicyclist in Wyoming who felt the canine was a threat. Upon his return to civilian life, Bessler suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and used his dog, Mike as his therapy partner.

The 59-year-old man said the dog attacked him, according to the Tribune.

Mike, a Belgian Malinois and veteran military K9 who completed two tours in Iraq, was shot and killed earlier this month outside his home in the United States. “I would like to take a civil avenue to go after him – the gentleman that shot him – because Mike was a retired military officer”. Still a puppy, he was looked after by Matthew and underwent rigorous training regimens to become a commanding combat dog. “He can… help me calm down or relax me”.

Mike was outside of Bessler’s home in the small town of Powell, Wyoming while Bessler was hunting in the mountains. “I don’t buy his story”.

The dog’s demeanor makes Bessler suspicious of how the supposed attack went down.

Perhaps most curious, Bessler told the Billings Gazette, is that a neighbor whose window was open didn’t hear barking before the gunshot. “The guests who were at the house, they said the same thing. It was just a gunshot”.

A GoFundMe page, created to give Mike a full military burial, has exceeded its $10,000 goal in five days. “Please help us fund a funeral that will do this military war veteran the respect he deserves”.

He plans to find out exactly what happened to his beloved dog, the Billings Gazette reported.

A devastated Mr Bessler said: “I just lost my family member”.