K-9 shot, killed by North Georgia deputy after biting him, sheriff says

A North Georgia deputy shot and killed his K-9 partner after the dog suddenly attacked him, according to the county’s sheriff.

Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson told The Associated Press that deputy Corey Griffin had worked with the dog, whose name was Rocky, for four years. However, Rocky attacked his handler Saturday for the second time since November, forcing the deputy to shoot the dog three times.

 

The two were serving a warrant in Chickamauga when deputies began issuing loud commands to four people inside a home, the AP reported. Rocky then became aggressive, refused all commands and bit Griffin’s arm.

Rocky wouldn’t let go of the deputy’s arm, and Griffin had to shoot him, Wilson said. The deputy was treated at a hospital and released the next day.

In November, Rocky attacked Griffin during a search for a shooting suspect, the AP reported.

The sheriff’s office posted on Facebook to keep Griffin “in your prayers” after the “tragic incident.”

Rocky is not the first K-9 to die while on the job this year in Georgia. Within one week in May, two Gwinnett County K-9 officers died. One of them died shortly after pursuing a suspect in 90-degree heat, AJC.com previously reported.

K-9 Eli, an 8-year veteran with Gwinnett police, had been tracking a suspect in Grayson for about 30 minutes before he began to show signs of distress believed to be related to the heat.