YORK (AP) – A police dog who went missing for six days when he broke free from his handler while searching for a suspect in the woods was found Monday after he wandered into another police officer’s back yard.

Baron, a 4-year-old German shepherd, was exhausted and had minor abrasions but was otherwise doing well, said his handler, Officer Chad Allen of the Berwick Police Department, who brought the dog in for a checkup at the York Animal Hospital.

Although the official search for Baron by game wardens and area police agencies had ended by the weekend, Allen and 15 to 20 volunteers had been combing the woods in hopes of finding the black and tan dog.

At about 9 a.m. Monday, Baron wandered into the yard of Officer Scott Randall of the York Police Department, who lured him into his home with biscuits and relayed the good news to Allen.

Exhausted’

When Baron and his handler were reunited, it was “10 minutes of overjoy between the two of us. Then he laid his head on my leg and laid down at my feet. He was just exhausted.”

Baron had bitten through his 20-foot nylon leash, leaving only 3 inches remaining. Allen theorized that the leash must have gotten tangled on something within the first hour or so that Baron was on his own and he chewed at it to break free.

Allen said he believes that the dog spent the six days in the woods and was searching for him. During that time, his weight dropped from 92 pounds just over 84 pounds.

Baron, who was born in Holland and had been trained in New Hampshire, was acquired by the Berwick department through a grant and donations from local residents.

At the time of his disappearance, he was enlisted by York police to help in the search for an intruder who was spotted in a woman’s home on May 17. The suspect was still at large Monday.

Baron had been scheduled to undergo narcotics certification this week, but Allen said that plan was put on hold.

“Right now, he’s going to have some quiet time – relaxation, some play, just taking it easy,” Allen said.