A K-9 that ran away after being spooked by Fourth of July fireworks has been found safe in Concord.
The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office says a tip led deputies to K-9 Igor, a Belgian Malinois who is trained in explosives detection. The dog was found off Executive Park Drive in Concord just before 6:45 a.m. Monday.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the public for their vigilance and outpouring of support throughout this ordeal,” Cabarrus County Sheriff Van Shaw said in a news release. “We’re glad to have Igor back.”
Igor's handler let the K-9 outside in Kannapolis about 9:45 p.m. July 4 to relieve himself when fireworks exploded nearby. Igor wasn't on a lead – as is apparently the custom of the handler – and was startled by the noise. Igor took off, and his handler couldn't get him to come back using verbal commands.
Sheriff's deputies spent the weekend searching for Igor and put out pleas for the public to call in with any sightings of the dog. The Sheriff's Office says Igor was taken to a veterinarian on Monday and "does not appear to have any signs of distress or injury."
The department says the dog is expected to return to duty "after a respite."