A Fresno County sheriff’s deputy is mourning the loss of his K-9 partner who was struck by a car after he ran off when he was startled by a fireworks explosion this weekend.
The incident occurred Saturday night when the off-duty deputy let the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, named Santi, out into the yard to urinate, according to a news release by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
At that time, an aerial mortar exploded nearby, startling Santi, who then ran and jumped over the fence. The deputy chased after Santi, shouting commands for the dog to come back, but the continued sound of fireworks caused Santi to keep running.
The deputy eventually found Santi at the intersection of Shaw and Helm avenues in Clovis, where he was found injured on the road after someone had struck him, according to the sheriff’s office.
The dog was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. Santi had been with the sheriff’s office for four years, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Clovis Police Department is now investigating the hit-and-run accident. Anyone with information about the hit-and-run can reach out to the department at (559) 324-2800.
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