Commissioners approve transfer of retiring K-9 Fox to handler

Sheridan County commissioners voted May 26 to approve the transfer of K-9 Fox to her handler after Sheriff Levi Dominguez reported the dog must be retired for medical reasons.

"She has medical issues going on on with her her back and and things that we're gonna have to retire her," Dominguez told the board during his canine-program update. He said Fox, who is roughly five years old, has developed back problems that impair her ability to perform alerts and that the department expects to transfer Fox to Deputy Kayla Oswald as a home dog under a standard transfer agreement.

Dominguez said the department has an opportunity to receive a trained canine named Tyson from B3K9 at no charge; Tyson is already trained in drug detection, tracking, trailing and evidence recovery. "So we're gonna be working on on the new canine coming is is k 9 Tyson," Dominguez said, adding that deputy Oswald will need to recertify with Tyson in the coming weeks.

Commissioner [moved, unnamed in record] made the motion to authorize the transfer; another commissioner seconded. Chair called for the vote, commissioners responded "aye," and the chair declared the motion carried. Dominguez told the board the transfer will require only modest travel expenses for recertification and otherwise will not create a new budget request.

The action formalizes a common local practice for retiring county canines: a transfer contract that leaves future medical and care costs with the handler once the animal is declared surplus by the county. The board did not specify further conditions or a published effective date beyond the approval recorded during the meeting.