Stevens Point K9 officer dies after ingesting toxic mushroom

By Shereen Siewert

Luna, a 2 1/2-year-old K9 officer with the Stevens Point Police Department, died early Wednesday of multiple organ failure, according to a department news release.

A GoFundMe set up to help pay for Luna’s care stated officials believe a poisonous mushroom is to blame for the death, which happened two days after the dog was transported to the Animal Referral Center Fox Valley. Luna was unresponsive upon arrival at 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2. Efforts to restore her to health were not successful.

Luna was one of the Stevens Point Police Department’s first K9 Officers and began her career in April of 2018, together with with K9 Fala. Luna was a Belgian Malinois trained in drug identification, tracking and apprehension.

“In Luna’s, short career she served the community honorably and was loved by everyone she came in contact with,” the department’s release states. She was “without a doubt, most beloved member” of the SPPD.