Lithuanian police dog killed in action gets official burial

VILNIUS, Lithuania – A Lithuanian police dog has been given a solemn official burial ceremony in the Baltic country, complete with state border guards firing off a volley salute.

An urn with the ashes of the Belgian Shepherd named Ramzis was solemnly carried before officers and dogs from the State Border Guard Service’s canine squad during Wednesday’s ceremony in the western town of Pagegiai.

Ramzis, a 3-year-old male, was killed in action on Sept. 27, when state border officers were tracking smugglers near Russia’s Kaliningrad regional border.

The shooting has angered Lithuanians and a campaign has been launched to raise money to erect a statue to commemorate the dog.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.