NW Indiana city to pay $10K in police dog's killing of dog

PORTAGE, Ind. (AP) - A northwestern Indiana city has agreed to pay $10,000 to the owners of a dog killed by a police dog that escaped from its handler.

Portage's Advisory Claims Committee approved the negotiated settlement Monday. The claim will go before the city's Board of Works on Friday for approval.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports that a Portage police officer had her Belgian Malinois (mal-ihn-WAH') police dog, Nyx, on a leash during Portage's Sept. 15 Bacon Fest when it escaped her grasp and attacked a Yorkshire terrier.

That dog, Bandit, died after treatment at the Purdue Veterinary Clinic in West Lafayette.

The police dog's handler admitted not having a tight enough grasp on its leash.

City Attorney Gregg Sobkowski says the settlement was reached through "conversations" between city officials and the family.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com