8/14/23

As we reported last week, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office said that one of its K-9s would be released to early retirement with its handler if the community raised enough money to pay for a replacement.

Now, Donald Smith says that goal has been reached.

In a release, Smith said that the group Mission K-9 Rescue notified him that the required 19-thousand dollars had been raised to purchase and train a law enforcement K-9.

He said that the only remaining step is to wait for the funds to clear the appropriate bank accounts, and that he expects to release K-9 Rico into early retirement as soon as tomorrow with former handler, Deputy Dennis Reynolds.