Peterson loses four-legged Airman Published Dec. 5, 2006 By Steve Brady 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- Team Pete recently lost one of its members to a debilitating brain disease. Blek, a military working dog, was put to sleep Nov. 17; the German Shepherd was 10 years old. "He was such a great dog, he had such a good personality and disposition," said Staff Sgt. Ward Patrick, Blek's handler with the 21st Security Forces Squadron. Sergeant Patrick had been with Blek for 11 months. "He always wanted to play, despite his medical issues." The exact cause of Blek's illness was undefined, but the cause of death was listed as an undiagnosed degenerative neurological disease. The disease affected his equilibrium, which disqualified him from doing patrol work. "He had a progressive undiagnosed neurological condition and his condition had been going downhill for the last couple months," said Capt. Amanda Coenen, officer in charge of the Fort Carson Veterinary Treatment Facility who treated Blek. "We felt it was best for him to end his suffering." Tissue samples have been sent for a pathology report, Captain Coenen said, to determine a direct diagnosis. "I was pretty upset when we had to put him down," Sergeant Patrick said. "I'm not going to get another dog before I leave the military - I've not had to do that with another dog." Blek was Sergeant Patrick's fourth dog as a dog handler, and he said he quickly grew attached to Blek. "I feel I was closer to Blek than any other dog I worked, because not only did he have a good personality and worked really well, but he was a fun dog," he said. Military working dogs serve two purposes - as patrol dogs, and either explosives or drug detection. Blek was an explosives detection dog and had deployed numerous times to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and stateside to support presidential visits. The handlers deploy with the dogs and spend all day with them, forming a tight bond. As his disease worsened, Blek's personality changed as he lost energy, Sergeant Patrick said. The disease eventually affected his balance, hearing and sight, and Sergeant Patrick, along with the kennel master, veterinarian and others, recommended Blek be euthanized. "He was a great dog and I'm gonna miss him. His personality was what made him," Sergeant Patrick said. "Anytime you work a dog, there's a bond there." Blek's remains were cremated, and a memorial ceremony is planned for the future. Comment on this story.