K9 Rio

Rio

K9 Rio suffered a fatal heart attack around 11:00 a.m. while conducting an article search near the Oconee National Forest in Jasper County.

K9 Rio and his handler tracked the location of a subject illegally hunting on private property. Officers detained the poacher while K9 Rio located the subject's hunting location. As K9 Rio searched for further evidence, he had a medical emergency. Despite attempts to revive him, K9 Rio could not be resuscitated.

The subject was charged with hunting without permission and failure to meet recording and reporting requirements for deer harvest.

K9 Rio served with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for six years.