Sharpsburg's police dog, Jango dies after battle with health issues – TribLIVE

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Sharpsburg’s police dog, Jango, a 6-year-old German shepherd who retired in August after a little more than four years of service, has died.
Jango “crossed that rainbow bridge” around 9:30 a.m. Sept. 26, according to a Facebook post by Sharpsburg’s K-9 unit.

“Jango was not only a part of the Sharpsburg family, but of our own,” the post read. “Rest easy pup … we’ll take it from here.”
Sharpsburg firefighters also took to social media to post their condolences.

“Thank you for your service to our community, the lower valley and beyond,” the fire department post read. “Rest in Peace Jango.”
His handler, Officer Jeffrey Hussar, talked about the loss Tuesday evening.
“It was rough,” Hussar said. “His health went downhill so quick over the past two weeks, and he got to the point over the weekend where he just wasn’t moving around. He was laying there. He wasn’t eating anything. He had no quality of life, and we couldn’t let him suffer any more.”
Tests showed the dog was in an elevated late stage of kidney disease.
Penn Animal Hospital donated its veterinary services to the department.
Hussar said he and his wife, Sydney, brought Jango to the vet Monday morning shortly after their children left for school. The family had said their goodbyes to their beloved dog.
Jango’s last shift was Aug. 30. Hussar brought Jango to training in Ross that day with other K-9 units from Pittsburgh Regional Transit, McCandless and Ross.
The Sharpsburg K-9 unit’s Facebook post had garnered 139 comments and 178 shares as of Tuesday evening. The family also received other messages of condolences.
“Everybody loved him,” Hussar said. “He was not just the only first actual K-9 down here, he was part of the department and when people saw him people got to meet him. Anytime we had any community events he was there. He just loved people.”
Hussar, 43, of Shaler, said becoming a K-9 officer had always been his dream. He started preparing for the program in 2017.
Jango was purchased from Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville in February 2018.
The kennel specializes in training German and Dutch shepherds and Belgian Malinois for police service and personal protection, according to its website.
They trained at the kennel through April of that year.
It cost about $15,000 for the dog and training. A new police vehicle specially outfitted for the unit cost about $50,000.
Sharpsburg officials recognized Jango for his service at the Aug. 25 council meeting. Jango wasn’t there.
Police Chief Thomas Stelitano reported at the time the K-9 team has handled 73 calls for service to other departments for narcotics searches, building searches and locating missing and runaway children.
Jango was also involved in more than 150 calls in Sharpsburg and was credited with about 50 arrests.
Some highlights included assisting Hampton and O’Hara police with the apprehension of a felony warrant suspect and a state police assist with the apprehension of a homicide suspect in Butler County.
Jango and Hussar also did demonstrations for students in Shaler and Fox Chapel Area elementary schools. The dog served as not only a crime deterrent but a community ambassador.
Hussar said he would like the borough to get a new police dog. It is unclear when a new unit may be formed.
Donations can be made to the department in Jango’s name at the borough building, 1611 Main St. Monetary contributions also can be donated via Northwest Bank, 905 Main St. The donation must be marked specifically for the Sharpsburg K9 Unit account.
Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, [email protected] or via Twitter .
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