Died 7/18/23
Handler – Deputy Anita Lucas-Dykstra
Cobb Sheriff’s Office K-9 dies from cancer complications
A Cobb County Sheriff’s Office K-9 has died, the office announced Friday.K-9 Athos died from complications due to cancer, according to a sheriff’s office spokesperson. The dog joined the sheriff’s office in 2017 and died on July 18. He was seven years old, said Deputy Anita Lucas-Dykstra, partner and handler. “We built our bond on trust and a deep emotional connection. Athos was more than my partner, he was my best friend and my family,” Lucas-Dykstra said. “He was the nose and eyes that I didn’t have. He had an incredible sense of smell that was used several times to help find people.”During Athos’s career, he is credited with locating several people and articles of evidence. Some of his more notable tracks included locating a missing 10-year-old autistic boy who ran away from home this past June. Athos and Lucas-Dykstra received the call about the boy at the end of their shift, and Athos was able to find the boy hiding in the bushes in 10 minutes.On another callout, Athos located a 15-year-old boy, who had made threats of suicide. He was able to locate the boy in the woods near his high school just by smelling his bicycle seat. The boy was unharmed and was able to receive further medical treatment, according to the sheriff’s office.Athos was scheduled to be medically retired later this year.”He touched many people’s lives through his work and attendance at community events,” the sheriff’s office said in an announcement of Athos’s death. “It was an honor to have K-9 Athos serve with us here at Cobb County Sheriff’s Office and he will be missed by us all.”