Roseburg (Oregon) -- The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of member of their team today.Winston, a drug detection K-9 who had been with them since 2007, passed away due to a virus.
The Sheriff's office says they're not sure how Winston contracted the virus, but he was brought to several vets in the area. The virus ultimately led to Winston’s death because it caused his kidney’s to fail.
He was not only a sweet dog, but a highly valuable member of their force.
“Seventeen and a half pounds of methamphetamine, he found over that amount in his lifetime. Sixty-eight pounds of cocaine. To say he was successful, is understating it,” says Deputy Dwes Hutson of the Douglas County Sheriff’s office.
“Basically the most successful drug detection dog we've had in this county."
Hutson added that having K-9’s on the force is essential. They have abilities humans simply do not, like Winston’s incredible ability to sniff out a number of different narcotics.
Winston was 7 years old. The Sheriff's office doesn't know when they'll get another K-9, but say it'll be nearly impossible to replace Winston.
