GRAND RAPIDS, MI – During an 8-year-career, Grand Rapids police tracking dog Bak went on 1,277 calls, helped arrest 149 suspects, searched for drugs and cleared buildings for hiding suspects.

Considered one of Grand Rapids Police Department’s most successful tracking dogs, K-9 Bak, 9½ years old, died last week from a fast moving cancer of the spleen.

The dog was retired in September. Bak lived with handler Mike Lafave and his family. His five children loved the dog. Bak could turn from tracker to playful puppy the moment he and Lafave got home.

Bak was considered an “extraordinary” tracker, Lt. Mark Mathis said on Monday, Dec. 3.

Once, Bak and Lafave, looking for a machete-wielding suspect, found him hiding after he climbed up a high tree.

In another case, a suspect ran from police and entered a drain pipe and worked his way underground.

Bak signaled the suspect’s location.

Police brought in excavating equipment, and dug out the suspect. He was cold, wet and required immediate medical attention because his body temperature was dangerously low, police said.

Police trusted the dog.

He had a track record to build that trust. While police dogs are successful 3 to 5 percent of the time, Bak had success on 36 percent of his tracks, police said.

“He’s definitely the best I’ve had,” Lafave said.

His dog was given a clean bill of health upon retirement. But a fast-moving cancer ruptured the dog’s spleen last Wednesday. Lafave rushed him to the veterinarian, but Bak didn’t last the night.

Lafave’s heart-broken children stayed home from school. It was hard on Lafave, too.

Bak came to Grand Rapids police in 2004. Police used donations from Meijer Inc., Milkbone, and Grand Rapids Police Canine Foundation to buy the dog. He was trained with two others as part of an in-house training program.

Lafave said he and the dog built trust in one another during the first year.

“I spent more time with that dog than with my own family. I was with him 24/7.”

His dog, at 110 pounds, had an imposing presence.

Despite the close relationship, Lafave had to consider that his dog was there to help get his job done. He has sent the dog into houses and buildings, searching for suspects, knowing his dog might not come out alive.

It isn’t easy. Police dogs take a beating. They don’t recognize the danger.

Lafave reminds himself that officers – moms and dads with families at home – are safer that way.

Lafave recalled that Bak was especially loved by children. Once, he did a presentation for a pre-school group.

The children asked why Bak wasn’t wearing a badge, and why he didn’t have one.

Lafave explained that department did not provide badges to dogs.

The children took the issue up with their parents. It started a school-wide effort to do chores at home for money.

Students raised $100 for a badge, and surprised LaFave in a visit to the Police Department. Lafave said it was one of the most touching moments of his career.

“K-9 Bak wore his badge with pride as he helped arrest some of the most violent criminals in town,” Mathis said.

“The badge always provided a visible reminder of who K-9 Bak was working to protect. K-9 Bak also helped return Officer Lafave and the Officers on Patrol Unit One home safely each night during his eight years at the department."

K-9 Bak will be buried at Noah’s Garden’s, 2727 Orange Ave SE, with other Grand Rapids police dogs in the “Valley of Heroes.”

E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/grpressagar