November 30th, 2010
12:01 PM ET

Police dog disappears during search

Bane is a 4-year-old German shepherd.

A Michigan State Police dog searching for a missing dementia patient has become the subject of a search himself.

Bane, a 4-year-old German shepherd, disappeared November 13, according to a website set up by his handler, Michigan State Trooper Jamie Bullis.

The two were part of a group looking for the missing man in a swamp near Alpena in northern lower Michigan when the dog's lead got tangled in brush, Bullis wrote.

"I dropped the lead to untangle him. About the time I got him free, a deer that had been bedded and was less than five yards from me jumped up and ran directly in front of Bane. Bane gave chase," Bullis wrote. "He was out of sight in about a second and I have not seen him since."

Searchers found human remains the following day; police believe it was the missing man but are awaiting positive identification, the Detroit Free Press reported.

A "Find Bane" Facebook page set up by Bullis has garnered the maximum 5,000 friends, and a video on YouTube chronicles Bane's training.

Volunteers continue to look for Bane, but Bullis is not encouraging them to venture into the woods, because Michigan's firearm deer season continues until 30 minutes after sunset Tuesday.

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Filed under: Animals • Dogs • Michigan • U.S.
soundoff (72 Responses)
  1. Wow

    The dog is the smart one. He got tired of taking orders. He secured his own destiny. Go Bane!

    November 30, 2010 at 9:08 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Julia

    I agree with those who suggest that his natural prey drive overcame his training as he took off after the deer. Our family do, a pure bred Irish Setter, was stolen from our backyard, so I can certainly relate to the terrible sense of loss that the officer must be feeling. Hopefully, Bane will find his way safely home in time. For those suggesting police corruption is behind his disappearance, please get a life. This is a simple, but sad story, about a dog who got lost. I pray that he will be home safe and sound soon.

    November 30, 2010 at 10:25 pm | Report abuse |
  3. MarchHare

    Ummmm...well...the police dog gets lost. Has anyone got any news on the results of the search for the dementia patient, because it seems to have gotten lost in the story about a police dog that doesn't do as its told.

    November 30, 2010 at 10:51 pm | Report abuse |
  4. muffdiver

    Come on now – the dog went to Las Vegas!!! Playing poker with the other poker dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    December 1, 2010 at 1:00 am | Report abuse |
  5. Epidi

    My daughter owns a shepherd, Max, and is the smartest and best behaved dog I've ever seen but will drop his focus and chase a running rabbit or squirrel in an instant. I told her to use a loud whistle to train him for recall and he comes back every time within a minute or two. Perhaps after his chase he got too far away to hear his partner calling for him. Too bad – these police dogs are excellent cops! Winter cold has set in and I hope he is found safe very soon.

    December 1, 2010 at 1:18 am | Report abuse |
  6. Dee

    How sad!

    Love the dogs name, our german shephard/lab mix has the same name, except we spell is Baine. Hope the dog is found.

    December 1, 2010 at 4:44 am | Report abuse |
  7. nightaudit11

    dogs get shot for chasing deer, wether their police dogs or not. Sounds like the police need to get better trained dogs since these "highly" trained dogs just run off chasing deer when their trained not too. I think these police officers need to start doing doing the job their paid to due instead of using dogs.

    December 1, 2010 at 5:14 am | Report abuse |
  8. Martin K.

    How do you think police dogs are trained to sniff-out drugs? They get their dogs addicted to the drug and then stop giving it to them. The dog, just like any other addict, will do whatever it takes to get his next fix. When the dog finds the drugs, they reward the dog with a fix. But they love their doggy.

    December 1, 2010 at 6:28 am | Report abuse |
    • JP

      Maybe that's how you train your search dogs.

      December 1, 2010 at 9:01 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Martin K.

    The avg. life expectancy of a drug-sniffing police dog is less than 3 years.

    December 1, 2010 at 6:30 am | Report abuse |
  10. Jonathan

    it's a DOG it will be OK

    December 1, 2010 at 7:26 am | Report abuse |
  11. ROBIN (CW3)

    I'm sure the lead has got him trapped somewhere and he is unable to get free. I hope they find him soon.

    December 1, 2010 at 7:52 am | Report abuse |
  12. exalted eminence

    Maybe the poor dog got tired of his job – having to chase people, putting people in prison for marijuana possession and being around a bunch of angry, hypocritical, corrupt, anally retentive cops all the time. Dogs can sense corruption and evil.

    December 1, 2010 at 8:52 am | Report abuse |
  13. shirley

    I to am praying the police dogs return. I also know are part of the family as well as being a partner. I know just would be distroyed if one of my pets lost or killed !!!

    December 1, 2010 at 3:20 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Eliz Knight

    To Martin K. Stay away from your dumb pills, it sure sounds like you have a tendency to over medicate yourself. Big Time !

    December 20, 2010 at 9:53 am | Report abuse |
  15. Veronica

    Amen Eliz,
    Jamie, I met you once at Tommys, I'm Billy's wife, my heart goes out to you, good luck my friend. Please God bring Bane home...

    December 21, 2010 at 10:51 pm | Report abuse |
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