RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — The Randolph County Sheriff's Office had to say goodbye to a beloved K-9 unit on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
K-9 Ziva was diagnosed with infiltrative lipoma earlier in the month, causing tumors to attach themselves to fatty tissue and bone.
According to the sheriff's office, while the tumors were benign, they were aggressive. They would require removal as well as "slow and methodical radiation and chemotherapy" to rid the body of the masses fully.
The treatment would have been costly, and physically detrimental to K-9 Ziva, with a small chance of success.
Due to this, deputies made the heartbreaking decision to lay K-9 Ziva to rest.
On Tuesday morning, K-9 Ziva and her handler, Detective Shawver, were met by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Honor Guard and other Randolph County Sheriff’s Office members to say goodbye one last time.
The sheriff's office held a ceremony to "celebrate her life, work, and accomplishments."
Afterward, K-9 Ziva was escorted to the vet.
K-9 Ziva farewell
K-9 Ziva was described by the sheriff's office as a "dual-purpose canine trained in narcotics detection, article searches, tracking, and apprehension".
She graduated from High Point Canine Solutions LLC in 2020 before joining the Randolph Co. Sheriff's Office and being assigned to her handler.
Deputies credit K-9 Ziva for several narcotic arrests and apprehension of wanted individuals. She was also considered the top-tracking K9 in the sheriff's office for 2022.
"Her accomplishments will not be forgotten, and her handler will cherish the time they had together forever," wrote the sheriff's office in a press release. "Rest in peace! We will take it from here."