Wasilla, AK – Alaska State Troopers K9 Blazer died during emergency gastric torsion surgery on Oct. 19, according to his department.

Alaska State Trooper Daron Cooper rushed his partner, K9 Blazer, to a veterinarian after he began “showing signs of quickly deteriorating health,” the Alaska State Troopers said in a Facebook post.

The six-year-old Belgian Malinois underwent emergency surgery, but “did not pull through the procedure,” the agency said. “He will certainly be missed.”

The duo, who were based out of the Matanuska-Susitna West Post, had worked together since K9 Blazer joined the Alaska State Troopers in April of 2013.

They also appeared in at least three episodes of National Geographic’s television series, “Alaska State Troopers.”

In 2015, K9 Blazer was the recipient of a “bullet and stab resistant vest,” thanks to fundraising efforts by the Alaska K9 Center in North Pole and the non-profit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., the department said in a Facebook post.

“Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is deeply saddened to hear of the loss of K9 Blazer of the Alaska State Troopers,” the nonprofit organization wrote in a Facebook post in the wake of K9 Blazer’s sudden death.

“We send our condolences to Trooper Daron Cooper, his family and all who knew and loved K9 Blazer. Run free over the bridge beloved hero,” the organization said.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Alaska State Troopers and Trooper Daron Cooper in the loss of K9 Blazer.