8/1/23

Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith is asking the community for help to allow a K-9 to enjoy an early retirement.

In a release yesterday, Smith said that K-9 Rico is without a handler after his human partner recently retired from the sheriff’s office. He said that because obtaining and training these dogs is so expensive, he doesn’t feel that sending the dog into retirement is a good use of taxpayer dollars.

However, Blue Ridge Canine Services has offered to raise money to purchase a new K-9 that would allow Rico to live out his life alongside his longtime partner.

Smith says that if the service can raise 19-thousand dollars for a new K-9 by the time training school begins in September, he’ll allow Rico to retire.