An RCMP dog was struck and killed on Highway

An RCMP dog was struck and killed on Highway 10 near Springfield, Annapolis County, on Wednesday, just after arriving to take part in the search for a missing 77-year-old man.

Fred, a three-year-old German shepherd, had been a police dog for a year.

Annapolis RCMP think the driver of a large silver Toyota SUV either hit the dog or saw what had happened. They are asking the driver to call them.

Fred’s badge number will be retired and he will receive a special memorial service for dying in the line of duty, said Sgt. Mark Gallagher, a provincial RCMP spokesman.

"We recognize them the same as having a member that’s been killed," he said.

The search for the missing man, William Lewis, started Tuesday.

A Natural Resources Department helicopter had previously spotted what looked like a lived-in, remote campsite but didn’t see anyone there. The RCMP looked into the matter and learned that an older man who had previously been in good health lived there but hadn’t been seen for a while.

"The local people said he didn’t look like he was doing so well (lately)," Sgt. Gallagher said.

Police aren’t positive the man is still in the area but are conducting a search because people there said his health looked poor and he was known to stay at the campsite, Sgt. Gallagher said.

Little is known of the man, he said, and it’s not believed he has any family in the area.

The search will resume today, Sgt. Gallagher said.

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