Columbia SO’s K-9 found dead

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office lost a member of its K-9 Unit Thursday with the death of K-9 Sagas. K-9 Sagas was found deceased in his kennel by handler Cpl. Keith Jackson Thursday morning. The cause of death was not immediately known.

This is the second K-9 the agency has lost in less than a week. On June 8, K-9 Cinco was found deceased by his handler Deputy Matt Grinstead. Agency dogs live in kennels built at the residences of their handlers.

Sagas, a German Sheppard, was purchased in 2003 and was trained and certified as an apprehension and narcotics dog. Cinco, a Belgium Travern, was the newest member of the K-9 Unit and was purchased just over a year ago. He was also trained and certified in apprehension and narcotics. The deaths of both dogs are currently under investigation.

"The death of K-9 Cinco - when it was the only death- was a tragedy, but the death of K-9 Sagas in the same week - we have to investigate this to the fullest extent," said Sheriff Bill Gootee.