SPOKANE, Wash. — A retired Spokane County Sheriff's Office K-9 has died after a long battle with seizures.
K-9 Laslo first spent the night in a veterinarian's office in early January, where he had four seizures. His seizures returned in March but he was eventually able to make it home.
In May, the four-legged retired officer was placed into a medically-induced coma when his seizures returned yet again.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Cpl. Jeff Thurman said Laslo passed around 3:15 a.m. on Friday. Laslo was 8-years-old.
Laslo was born in Germany and was originally destined to be a show dog, but that didn't work out. A job sniffing out crooks would be better suited for him.
Laslo joined the force around half a decade ago. After four years on the job, he and Thurman took down nearly 500 bad guys - an astonishing feat.
"There will be a piece of my heart always missing. To the best partner I ever had, R.I.P.," Thurman wrote on K-9 Laslo's Facebook page.
Thurman's friend and colleague, Deputy Mark Gregory spoke on his behalf today. It's an extremely hard day not just for Thurman, but everyone in the sheriff's office.
"You could just see that when they were together, they were one," Gregory said. "You could see it by the work product they put out, and you could see it when they played together. They were meant to be together."
K-9 Laslo welcomed nine puppies about a year ago. His son Justice is set to follow in his footsteps.
In 2017, K-9 Laslo retired after an incredible crime-fighting career. Thurman and his furry friend had taken down or assisted in the arrest of more than 470 suspects in less than four years on the job.
An informal memorial service will be held in the parking lot of Ponti Veterinary Clinic on 25007 E. Wellesley at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. K9 Laslo will then be transported to Family Pet Memorial.