COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — The Coweta County Sheriff's Office is morning the loss of one of its "finest working canines."
K-9 Donja died at the age of 14 on Tuesday and was in service for over a decade, according to the sheriff's office. She enjoyed several years of retirement with her handler Adam Montgomery by her side before she died.
The sheriff's office took to Facebook to announce the dog's passing saying, Donja was "instrumental in the success of the canine unit."
"With a heavy heart the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of its finest working canines," the sheriff's office wrote.
The sheriff's office says Donja and Montgomery located narcotics and tracked more than 300 wanted criminals and missing individuals during their successful careers together.
The sheriff's office asked the community to keep Montgomery and the K-9 unit in their thoughts as they navigate this time of grief, and as Montgomery loses "the bond that forms between a deputy and his canine partner."
"Rest In Peace sweet Donja girl, we have your watch from here," the sheriff's office wrote.
K9 Donja enjoyed her life in retirement, even getting a chance to visit the Gulf of Mexico just a few weeks before her passing. Deputies said, "to say she loved it was an understatement."
Coweta County K-9 Donja dies
Here is the full statement from the sheriff's office:
"With a heavy heart the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of its finest working canines. K-9 Donja passed away at the age of 14, today after enjoying several years of retirement with her handler Adam Montgomery by her side. K9 Donja and Deputy Montgomery played an instrumental part in the success of the canine unit during her over ten years of service. K9 Donja served Coweta County for an amazing 10 years and had a successful career locating large amounts of narcotics and tracked over 300 wanted criminals and missing persons. K9 Donja even got to visit the Gulf of Mexico a few weeks ago, to say she loved it was an understatement. Please keep Deputy Montgomery and our K9 Unit in your thoughts as he manages this difficult time of losing the bond that forms between a deputy and his canine partner. Rest In Peace sweet Donja girl, we have your watch from here."