A Manitowoc County Sheriff’s K9 has retired. Sheriff Dan Hartwig says K9 Leon retired after seven years with the department.
Leon and his handler got several awards from the Wisconsin State K9 Handlers Association, including for his work in narcotics finds, and track and apprehension.
Sheriff Hartwig also told Seehafer News, “In 2002, Leon got a first place at a K9 competition up in Oconto County and just this last year he got another award for a notorious track up in Point Beach State Forest this past year after an elderly gentleman got lost in the woods.”
Hartwig says K9s are a valuable tool for sheriff’s deputies and are very popular in the community.
Handlers and their K9 partners form a major bond during their time together, but because the dog technically belongs to the Sheriff’s Office, Leon’s handler had to pay $1 to the department in order to take him home after his final day.
Leon’s replacement, Knox is already paid for thanks to a generous donation from an unnamed individual.
