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Died – 11/6/23
Handler – Deputy Lt. Patrick Paquette
Greene County Sheriff’s Office announces the passing of K-9 Deputy Oby
Condolences are being extended to Deputy Lt. Patrick Paquette and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office from law enforcement agencies across the state with sad news that the agency’s beloved K-9 Deputy “Oby” is dead. He was 13. Since he was 18 months old, Oby was not only Paquette’s loyal and dedicated partner in law enforcement, but a member of the Paquette household. Oby passed away about 9:30 a.m. Monday at the University of Georgia Veterinarian Clinic in Athens. Paquette said he took Oby, a Belgian malinois, to the clinic because he could no longer stand on his four legs and he was having problems breathing.“I knew I had to try to get him help quick,” Paquette said. He later learned that there was nothing that could be done for Oby. Plans were underway to formally retire Oby sometime later this month. Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison shared the news of Oby’s death Monday morning via social media.“It is with a heavy heart that the Greene County Sheriff’s Office announces the passing of K-9 Deputy Oby. Oby passed away unexpectedly this morning. Deputy Oby joined the Greene County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 12, 2012, and was assigned to K-9 Handler Deputy Lt. Patrick Paquette. Throughout his career of service the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Greene County, his alerts led to numerous arrests for payloads of illegal drugs and the seizure of well over $1 million dollars in cash and assets. Deputy Oby was a valued member of the sheriff’s office and will be missed, tremendously.”A memorial service is tentatively scheduled for sometime early next week. “He had some issues with his hips, and I’d been actually working him only about twice a week, hoping he might get to feeling better with a little more rest,” Paquette said. “So, he had not been coming to work quite as often as he had been doing everyday for several years with me.”Paquette said he had had other K-9 deputies before Oby, but none compared to him.“He was one of a kind,” Paquette said. “He just had a special knack for working. And he wanted to make me happy.”Together, Paquette and Oby formed a most unique bond, and dynamic team when it comes to fighting the war on illegal drugs.“He was always there with me through it all,” Paquette said. “I will never ever forget Oby. He was so much more than a dog and a partner; he was family.”
