Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office K9 named Kimbo dies from complications related to bloat
May 6, 2024, 8:00 PM
PHOENIX — A K9 for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office unexpectedly died from a medical emergency last week, authorities announced.
Kimbo was found unresponsive on Wednesday inside his indoor, AC-controlled kennel, according to the sheriff’s office.
He was transferred to one of the K9 veterinarians, who determined Kimbo’s cause of death to be splenic torsion and gastric dilatation-volvus, commonly known as bloat.
K9 Kimbo: ‘A powerhouse of a dog’
Kimbo was a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who had been deployed in numerous SWAT missions. He also helped districts across Maricopa County and kept his partner Deputy Striker safe.
He was “a powerhouse of a dog, amazing partner and a symbol for the ideal police canine,” according to the social media post.
In place of flowers, the sheriff’s department is accepting donations that will be used to purchase ballistic K9 vests, as well as fund a retired K9’s medical account.
