County approves medical retirement of K-9 dog

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is losing a member of its team.  Sheriff Tim Walburg on Tuesday told Lake County Commissioners that Rocco, the department’s K-9 dog for the past seven years, will now be on medical retirement and will remain with his handler, Deputy Grant Lanning.  Walburg said that Rocco’s medical retirement was effective on Tuesday.

Walburg told commissioners that the Sheriff’s Office has been working with the same vendor in Nebraska where Rocco came from and has found another K-9 for the department.

Walburg said the new K-9’s name is “Mika” and the handler will be Deputy Craig Williams.  He said with the money from an anonymous donor, there will be no expense for the Sheriff’s Office for the dog.  Walburg said the new K-9 will take part in training provided by the state in Sioux Falls in September. 

Commissioners approved Walburg’s request to continue moving forward with the department’s K-9 program.