Police suspect foul play in death of Kotzebue fire dog

Police in Kotzebue believe the fire department’s pet dog found dead on the morning of July 16 may have been killed, the chief of police said.

Firefighters found the dog, who was usually kept on a run near the department’s fire training tower, dead inside the tower around 7:17 a.m., Kotzebue Police Chief Thomas Milliette said in an email Friday.

“The Kotzebue Police Department suspects foul play and is pursuing all investigative leads,” Milliette said. He did not respond to follow up questions Friday or Saturday.

The dog, a female husky mix named Ash, was about 3 years old, said Milliette.

Ash didn’t perform official fire department duties, but has been the department’s pet since she was a puppy, according to Greg Knight, a firefighter and EMT with the Kotzebue Fire Department.

"Everyone up here was affected by it, Ash was a good dog,” said Knight.

“She was our service dog,” Knight said. “The family member we could come to and didn’t have to say any words, and she give you the love and affection you needed."

The Kotzebue Police Department asks that anyone with information about Ash’s death to contact Kotzebue Police Department at 907-442-3351.