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Glassboro Police K9 Dies Suddenly After Running Away During Fireworks

GLASSBORO, N.J. (CBS) – According to the Glassboro Police Department, an officer's K9 partner suddenly passed away on July 5.

The K9, named Anka, had broken out of her secured kennel sometime before 9 p.m. Saturday. Glassboro Police and surrounding agencies immediately began searching the area for her.

An off-duty police officer soon located a severely-injured Anka one mile away at the intersection of Cross-Keys Road and Flanagan Avenue. She had apparently been struck by a vehicle.

Police rushed Anka to a nearby veterinary hospital, but while en-route she succumbed to her injuries.

Officers suspect Anka became stressed during private 4th of July fireworks displays in the area. Police believe this caused her to pull away from the fencing in her kennel and allowed her to slip out and run away.

Anka and her partner Ptl. Williams graduated from Patrol K9 school in 2011. They were involved in several K9 assignments during their time together in service.

Anka was also the first female police K9 in the department's K9 history that began in 1958. The Glassboro Police K9 Unit plans to honor Anka in a memorial service in the near future.

Police say details will be announced as they become available.

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