After an all-night search by officers and first responders from a range of agencies, K-9 officer Monster was found this morning in one of the ponds near Brother’s Market in Lisbon, around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police chief Doug Shannon thanked the outpouring of support and resources from the community to aid in the search for Monster Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Lisbon.

“We know Monster meant a lot to people in the community,” Shannon said.

Members of the Lisbon Fire Department eventually found what they believed to be Monster in the partially ice-covered ponds at 900 Willow Lane. Monticello Police Department utilized a drone to confirm what crews were seeing was Monster. Mount Vernon Fire Department was paged from searching in other locations to help in recovering Monster’s body, utilizing the department’s ice rescue gear.

Other departments that assisted throughout Tuesday morning included Monticello Police Department, Jones County Sheriff’s office and multiple animal rescues including Paws of Hope and Fur Fun Rescue, as well as countless citizens.

“I would like to extend our thanks to Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Monticello Police Department, Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, Mechanicsville Police Department, Mount Vernon Fire Department, Lisbon Fire Department, Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance, Mount Vernon & Lisbon city staff, Frey Pet Hospital, and the many citizen volunteers who assisted in the search or have reached out to express their support,” Shannon said, in a press release after the incident.

Monster was let outside Monday, Feb. 24, at roughly 10 p.m. for a late night bathroom break before bed as his handler, Officer Steve Moel was getting wood for a wood burning stove. Moel left Monster in the backyard for a few minutes as he prepared the firewood, and when he returned, Monster was missing.

That led the overnight search in Lisbon for many officers from the MVLPD and Linn County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s Office utilized drones to try and locate the dog in different areas. Members of both the Mount Vernon and Lisbon city crews also responded and aided in the search.

Monster, Shannon said, was nearing his 10-year anniversary for the department and the department would have been looking to retire the officer in the near future.

“Monster has just been a paramount part of our police department, and he is going to be greatly missed,” Shannon said. “He really touched every one he came in contact with, and it’s made for some heavy hearts in our department today.”

One of his favorite activities was playing fetch with tennis balls, especially in the police office throughout the day.

Shannon said that the department will look to replace Monster as a K-9 officer in the future, but how soon that happens is undetermined. The annual K-9 golf outing fundraisers have been put in place for keeping that officer program going for the department.

“Please keep our department and Officer Moel and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time,” Shannon said. “K9 Monster will be deeply missed by all of us.”

Edit 2:11 p.m. – An earlier version of this story misidentified the animal rescues who helped looking for Monster. That has been corrected and the Sun apologizes for the error.

Edit Thursday, Feb. 27, 8 a.m. – Clarifying where Monster was found and the responding agencies who located and recovered the body, and adding additional comments from chief Shannon from a press release released later Tuesday.