memorial2001


Memorials to Fallen K-9s 2006- C The F.A.S.T. Co. donates sets of memorial cards to all partners I need your help to inform me of such losses.

Dept. addresses available for those who want to send condolences to officers. See below

In Loving Memory of
K-9 CHIEF
Jan. 16, 2006

Partner: Deputy Don Hodges
Anderson County Sheriff’s Dept.
K-9 Unit - 305 CAMSON RD
ANDERSON, SC 29625
PH: 864.260.4400

I am writing this to pass onlong some sad news. On 01-16-2006, my friend and partner of 6 years died. His name was Chief. I first got Chief when I began working on the Anderson County Sheriff's Office Bloodhound/Tracking Team in June of 2000. Chief was a mix of Bloodhound and Treeing Walker Hound. The very first time I was called out with Chief was on Mother's Day. A 4 year old had followed her own dog in the woods and got lost. The dog came back but without the little girl. After getting a good sniff of the little girl's pajamas, Chief took off into the woods. After about 20 minutes Chief led myself and another officer to the little girl. We came out of the woods and reunited mother and daughter for a good Mother's Day gift.
I was speaking with a local reporter after putting Chief in the car and I had my back to the car. The next thing I knew the people on the scene were pointing at my car. I turned around and started to laugh. Chief had gotten into the front and turned on all the lights and was sitting behind the wheel as if to say, "Come on Daddy, let's go to the next call." Over the 5 years we spent together I have returned to the car and saw my lights going more than once.

In October of 2003 Chief retired and I started working with my new partner K-9 Luke. I let Chief stay in his usual spot on my carport. Everytime I took Luke out to train, it was like Chief was saying that he should be going out instead of Luke. In December of 2005, Luke had a sore leg and I decided to use Chief instead of calling the out the other bloodhound. We started tracking a burglary suspect that had jumped and ran from a carstop. About 1 1/2 mile into the track, the track was called due to having no perimeter and also having enough evidence to indentify the suspect. When I tugged on the leash and started up to unharness Chief, he began to bark and continued looking up an opening of a clearcut area. That was the first time since I had him that I heard him bark on a trail. On 01-16-2006 Chief had an appointment with his vet because he had not been eating well for the past week and did not have his usual level of energy. The vet did some bloodwork and the results were not good. Chief's kidneys had all but shut down. Chief had been treated in the past for kidney problems and was on a special diet for it. At this time Chief was operating on only 5 to 10 percent of kidney function. Due to age of 14, I made the hard decision to ease his pain. I had my friend and partner put down. When he was given the shot I had my arms around him and I told him that there would never be another like him.
Chief I will see you again one day my friend and partner and when I do I'll have your harness ready and we will go track somebody down. "Well done my friend and partner" Rest easy your work on earth is done. Don Hodges - Anderson County Sheriff's Office

Return to page 1 2006

Continute to page 3 2006