Editors Note: This article was originally published in the Jan. 10, 2024 issue of the Chronicle Progress. Some information may be outdated.
Millard County commissioners voted Dec. 19 to allow a sheriff’s K-9 officer to be formally retired and adopted out to its handler.
K-9 officer Bonsai began exhibiting neurologic issues last year, reported Sheriff Richard Jacobson.
“A few months ago one of our canines came in, Bonsai, began to exhibit some behavioral issues,” he said, recounting how the dog began to chew its tail, which eventually needed to be amputated.
“He’s on injured reserve and has been since that time,” the sheriff told commissioners.
Local veterinarian Dr. John Anderson provided an opinion regarding Bonsai’s continued employment, urging the county to retire the animal.
“Because of the nature of his illness, meaning Bonsai, and the progression of it, it is my opinion that Bonsai is no longer able to be used in the field and any training exercises,” Jacobson read from a medical opinion submitted by the veterinarian.
Jacobson said it is tradition to give the retired K-9 to its handler. In Bonsai’s case that’s Deputy Richard Warren.
“This is a sensitive thing to us because we get very close to these animals. They are deputy sheriffs in service,” Jacobson said.
The sheriff said so long as there is some quality of life left in the animal, handing them over to their handler in retirement is a practice the sheriff’s office routinely performs.
“We would like to plan for that,” the sheriff said.
Warren expressed a willingness to adopt the retired K-9, Jacobson said.
“I think it’s a fitting retirement for Bonsai to be with his best friend,” he said.
The sheriff said Bonsai performed well in about six years of active service.
County commissioners voted unanimously to allow the sheriff’ office to adopt out the animal.
Jacobson said a replacement K-9 will eventually be found for Bonsai.
Bonsai’s handler recently made headlines when he and another Millard County deputy, Taylor James Frampton, were criminally charged by the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
Warren was charged with third-degree felony counts of obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence as well as multiple misdemeanor crimes.
An initial appearance in his criminal case took place in Fourth District Court Dec. 20. A waiver hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14.
