Watch CBS News

MontCo Officer Wants His K9 Partner Back

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Weeks after a training mishap, the Montgomery County police department forced one of their K9s into early retirement---but the officer who handled the dog wants it back.

Gigi Barnett has more on the search for Chip.

"I do not know why the county will not come forward and say where Chip is," said Montgomery County police officer Gil Fones.

For months, Fones has been searching for his K9 partner, Chip.

Back in May, the county put the five-year-old Belgian Malinois into early retirement after it bit Fones during an intense training session.

"He just wanted to please. He worked so hard," Fones said. "Chip had a bad day and he bit me."

Fones says there were no hard feelings---in fact, he wanted to adopt Chip. The county said no and sent the dog to a rescue foundation for police and military canines.

Fones says he's distraught and wants to know where Chip is; the county won't tell him.

"I truly love him and I pray every day that he comes home," he said.

Now Fones is getting some help from retired K9 handlers. They've launched an online petition demanding that the county release Chip's whereabouts. So far, they have the backing of more than 125,000 signatures.

"I was bit about a year before I retired and required stitches. They didn't take my dog away," said retired K9 handler Bo Curry.

But the police department says it needed to take action in Chip's case. In an email, a spokesperson wrote, "Because of the dog's uncontrollable behavior, and the risk and safety considerations associated with that behavior, the dog was not eligible to be adopted."

"He's not a liability. He had a bad day," Fones said.

The police department says Chip bit Fones more than once and the department also says a team of K9 experts evaluated Chip and found that he was incapable of performing police work.

The police department says by law, it's not required to release the name of the rescue agency where it sent Chip. They say that, at last check, the dog is still alive.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.