Missing Fremont police dog found safe in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A missing police dog is safe after a massive search in the South Bay. Niko is Fremont's newest police dog. He disappeared Saturday night and was missing for 13 hours.

Our media partners at the San Jose Mercury News report the 16-month-old puppy escaped from its owner's yard in San Jose by digging under a fence.

Police found the dog near a creek bed at Almaden and Branham lane just after 11 a.m. on Sunday.

"We responded and made a perimeter, just in case he ran off," said Sgt. Ricardo Cortes. "His handler responded as well, the dog came to the handler and it was all resolved at that point, the dog is now back with the handler."

Niko went to the vet to get checked out.

The German shepherd has only been with the department for a couple of weeks.