Missing K-9 Stryker has been found

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (WANE) - UPDATE Jan 30, 2012 - Police announced on Wednesday morning that Stryker had been located and thanked the public for all the tips and information that were called in.

Stryker was found in Allen County about eight miles away from where he went missing.

Police said he was found in the backyard of a house and a couple who found the dog tied it to a tree and called 911 to let police know Stryker had been found.

Stryker's handler Master Sergeant Tim Pittenger went to the house himself to get the K-9.

"You could tell he was a little upset probably from the storms, and he just had radar lock on me until I said his name," said Pittenger. "And once I said his name, he was just a bundle of joy. He jumped the fence after I unhooked him and we kind of frolicked a little bit and I was happy as could be then he drug me to his work truck where he wanted to go to work."

Stryker and handler Pittenger plan to spend a couple days resting up as both are exhausted from searching and walking across county lines.

"[T]o be honest with ya, had to pull over on the side of the road. I had some teary moments. I was very happy to know that he was safe so, I made my way over there to meet and greet, there was no scolding at that time," said Pittenger of the reunion. "There was a lot of love. One of the deputies over there was one I started my career with, so he came off duty when he heard the call to go out there to check; it was a good moment."

Stryker is the Columbia City Police Department's only K-9.

This is an update to a previously published article which appears below .
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Columbia City Police are asking for the public's help in finding a missing K-9.

Stryker, a six-year-old Dutch Shepherd, apparently got out of his kennel at his handler's house in Collins at some point on Tuesday. A police officer said he spotted him around 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of  State Road 205 and County Road 200 North .

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"We started with kind of a tight parameter pretty close to the Collins area.  As time progressed, the Churubusco Fire Department was dispatched to assist us and also there were some conservation officers in the area.  There were also some deputies from the Allen County Sheriff's Department that are in the area," Columbia City Police Chief Tim Logenbaugh explained.

As you can imagine, Stryker's handler is upset and emotional about his disappearance.  He's concerned Stryker may get hit by a car.

Police said Stryker doesn't pose a threat to anyone, and you shouldn't be scared of him if you spot him.

"Stryker is a friendly dog.  He is not aggressive unless he's commanded to be aggressive by the handler.  So, Stryker likes people."

To be safe though, anyone who sees Stryker is asked to call 911 instead of approaching him.  Stryker is the only K9 the Columbia Police Department has.