Page 47 - WEB 2017 Annual Report_Float

STARK’S ROAD TO RECOVERY

MICHAEL ZAUGG & CHASE | Patrol K9 Team

2017 most memorable capture:
K9 Stark has worked tirelessly to become the best working dog he can
“Deputies serving the City of Cornelius had a pursuit with be. With 160 lifetime captures, Stark and his partner, Cpl. Akin have
a wanted suspect. The suspect drove down a dead end the most captures of any dog/handler team in WCSO’s history. Stark
road and eventually ran on foot. My brother, Cory Zaugg, has been described as “high drive” and many have noted, “he just
who was a K9 handler for the Hillsboro Police Department, doesn’t quit”. He truly loves his job and comes to work each day ready
was also working that night and started the track with his to protect his partner, help keep other law enforcement officers safe,
late dog, “Billy”. detect narcotics, serve his community and capture criminals, as well as

help locate missing Alzheimer’s or suicidal patients.
“Cory and Billy tracked the suspect over fences, through
large properties, and to a creek too deep to cross. My All of that hard work has taken its toll on his body. In 2017, Cpl. Akin
brother requested a second K9 to assist with the search noticed Stark had a slight limp and wasn’t approaching some physical
and I was paged off duty to come in. activities with the same gusto as before. After a physical evaluation by
a veterinary surgical specialist, tears in the ligaments in both of Stark’s
“Chase and I picked up the search on the other side of the back knees were discovered. Stark underwent surgery in the fall to
creek. We worked our way across a large property and repair his injuries and provide him a greater quality of life. After 10
ended up finding the suspect hiding about 20 feet up in weeks of recovery and physical therapy, Stark happily returned to the
a tree. The suspect was in and out of consciousness from road and has been doing what he loves and does best.
hypothermia and suspected drug use. He had most likely
been up in the tree for at least an hour or two. Firefighters When Stark is not working he is truly a part of the Akin family. He
responded to help retrieve him out of the tree with their enjoys spending time with the family, including their Labrador, and
ladders. It is not every day Chase and I locate someone joins them on many adventures including camping, time at the beach
up a tree, and it was even cooler to work a capture with and hunting trips.
my brother. “

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