The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit is investigating

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WSAV) – Some questions are being raised about animal care at the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) K-9 division after one of the dogs that appeared to be unwell was temporarily turned over to animal control.

That dog was a retired K-9 Kona, and according to a news release from LCSO, she was in the care of her handler, Deputy Trevor Tolson, until Monday, April 29, when he surrendered her.

An investigation is currently underway within the LCSO K-9 department.

Hinesville veterinarian Dr. Rachel Peeples says in her expert opinion that Kona appears to be underweight in photos obtained by News 3.

Whether neglect was a factor or not, the proper steps may not have been taken to care for Kona, Peeples says.

“There are reasons why she would be underweight that couldn’t have been avoided, and there are reasons that could have been avoided,” Peeples said. “Anyway, she should have noticed she was underweight and consulted a vet to find out the problem.”

In the May 6 press release (below), LCSO says any allegations of abuse or neglect are taken very seriously.

It’s not the first time in recent months that the K-9 department has encountered problems. On March 21, LCSO, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), investigated allegations of two K-9 handlers falsifying training documents, which resulted in both resigning before the investigation was completed.

According to LCSO, the results of the GBI investigation have been forwarded to the State Attorney’s Council to determine possible criminal charges.

Peeples cares for animals in Liberty County every day and believes changes need to be made in the way K-9 officers are cared for here.

“It’s pretty clear that the ball fell somewhere along the way into that dog’s care,” Peeples said, “but I think we have to wait until we get all the facts before deciding who is to blame.” then. “We also need to focus more on how we make changes in the future so that this kind of thing doesn’t continue to happen.”

Liberty County Animal Services Director Steve Marrero tells News 3 Kona was released from the facility less than 24 hours after she arrived and has since found a new caretaker. He also says that she was in good condition when she arrived and left.

LCSO did not provide a timeline for the investigation but said it is committed to maintaining a strong K-9 department.