Retired Police Dutch Shepherd Abandoned at Shelter & She Deserves So Much Better
The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office in Hinesville, Georgia, posted in a statement on May 6 that a K9 deputy was abandoned at a shelter in Georgia by her handler just five months after she retired.
An investigation is underway.
The Current GA claims that since the sheriff's office released the original press release on Facebook, there has been a lot of misinformation spread about not only Kona's former handler, but the sheriff's office K9 unit as well.
Here's that press release:
The press release reads, in part, "The Sheriff’s Office became aware of K-9 Kona being dropped off at the shelter late afternoon on Monday, April 29, 2024, by K-9 Sergeant Jessy Kilgore and through social media posts. No notification was received from Liberty County Animal Control about the status of the retired canine. Sheriff Bowman would not agree to, and had no prior knowledge of, the retired canine being treated in this manner. The well-being and proper care of all canines, both active and retired, is of the utmost importance to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and any allegations of mistreatment or neglect are taken very seriously."
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The sheriff’s department said it is investigating the circumstances around Deputy Travon Tolson’s surrender of Kona at the shelter. According to the above news report, Liberty County Animal Services Director Steve Marrero said that Tolson came to the shelter on April 29 to try to find other options to re-home Kona to another law enforcement agency or to a nonprofit that takes in retired law enforcement dogs.
“He was very distraught. He was in here bawling and crying because he didn’t want to get rid of Kona,” Marrero said.
This entire situation is so sad and it does sound like Tolson really wanted the best outcome for Kona.
Now the good news about this entire situation is that Kona was at the animal shelter for less than a day before being picked up by other members of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. Kona has since been adopted by an ex-police dog trainer.
We are so happy that this heroic police K9 is now going to get the retirement she deserves in a safe and loving home. This should never happen to any police K9, and we hope an investigation gives the public some answers.
These dogs are such heroes and deserve all the love they can handle.
What Is Involved in Training a Police Dog
The US Department of Justice reports that the total average cost of a successful canine police program is $55,672.42.
Not only do these incredible dogs have to be trained for drug detection, but also how to perform search and rescue and how to help apprehend criminals.
Police dogs able to search through rubble after a devastating explosion, earthquake, or other disaster. They find people lost in avalanches. These dogs search for explosives and illegal drugs, they canvas large events to look for explosives, and help search civilian vehicles that have been pulled over.
Basic training for the patrol dogs takes approximately 4 months of full-time work, sometimes longer.
In addition to that, these amazing pups are like family both to the officers who work with them and their relatives.
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