A Monroe County Sheriff’s Office K-9 has died of a heat-related injury and, now, the dog’s handler, a sheriff’s deputy, has resigned.
Here’s what we know about the incident in the western Wisconsin county:
What were the circumstances of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office K-9’s death?
The dog, Kolt, sustained a heat-related injury May 10, after which Kolt was taken to a pet hospital in Madison.
Five days later, the sheriff’s office said Kolt died after veterinarians tried multiple life-saving treatments. Kolt was a 6-year-old Czech Shepherd and had served on the Monroe County force since 2018.
“This situation has been very difficult for everyone and there is no doubt that this loss will have a lasting impact on Kolt’s handler and the Sheriff’s Office as a whole,” sheriff Wesley Revels said in a May 17 statement.
The sheriff’s office hasn’t provided any details about what caused the K-9’s injury.
When did the Monroe County deputy resign?
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy resigned Tuesday — almost two weeks after the dog had sustained the heat-related injury. The deputy had been placed on leave before his resignation.
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that an investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, with consultation from the Juneau County District Attorney’s Office, is ongoing.
The sheriff’s office has made no comment about if the deputy will face any charges related to the dog’s death.
“The findings from that investigation will be released when the investigation is complete,” a sheriff’s office statement said.