SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City police dog has been euthanized, four months after his police handler died of natural causes. The Sioux City Journal reports that the black Belgian malinois K-9 named “Eik” was put to sleep Thursday after a battle with cancer. In April, Sergeant Jay Fleckenstein — who trained Eik from a puppy and was his handler for six years — died at his home of natural causes.

A week after Fleckenstein’s death, Eik was retired, and the Fleckenstein family bought him from the department for $1. Police Chief Doug Young says the K-9’s death is a sad day for the department and called Eik “a good dog.”