SYRACUSE -- The Onondaga County Sheriff's Department is retiring three of its K-9 police dogs because of budget cuts. The move will reduce the size of the K-9 unit from 8 dogs to 5.
"We are facing some pretty severe budget cuts this year," said Sheriff Kevin Walsh. "The legislature reduced our staffing by 20 positions which leaves us in a situation of having to make adjustments." By cutting down the K-9 unit, the Sheriff says he can assign three of the handlers to full time road patrol duty.
Dogs are used for searches and working partners to the deputies.
The department will still have four German Shepherds and a bloodhound.
Walsh told CNY Central, "the K-9's will stay with the handlers because they have lived with their handlers their entire lives. They're very much their partners and a household pet at the same time."
