The search for a missing Baytown police dog has been called off after authorities said they believe the 4-year-old bloodhound was found dead after being hit by a vehicle.
Baytown Police Detective Alan Cliburn said the search for the bloodhound, whose name is Brandy, ended at about 7:30 tonight. At least four police agencies were helping to locate the dog, who escaped from her owner on Sunday.
Baytown police officials have yet to confirm if the dog is Brandy, Cliburn said. He released no other information about the report of the dog found dead, including the location.
Baytown police on Monday reported a canine handler discovered Brandy had disappeared about 4 p.m. Sunday after pushing her kennel open.
The dog has a small shaved patch on her stomach from a medical procedure and was last seen wearing a chain collar with no tags near FM 565, east of FM 3180 in the Baytown area.
Several Baytown police had volunteered in the search, Cliburn said Monday.
"The entire canine unit is out searching the area," Cliburn said earlier. "To us, the dog is priceless. She is part of our police family and the handler's family."
He would not identify the name of the handler.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, which provided a helicopter, the Chambers County Sheriff's Office and the Mont Belvieu Police Department also helped in the search, Cliburn said. Several civilian volunteers also showed up to help, police officials said.
Brandy has been a member of the department for about one year and has helped in locating missing people. She is part of five "dog teams" consisting of two bloodhounds, two German shepherds, a Labrador retrievers and their handlers.
Brandy recently toured 14 Baytown area schools in a program called Pennies for Justice designed to educate the public about what police officers do.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
