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Died – 1/24/18
Handler – Brooks Grable
Handler – Tyler Barber
K9 Deputy ‘Pajti’ euthanized after battling cancer
The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office said goodbye to a fellow deputy Wednesday afternoon. K9 Deputy Pajti (PIE-TEE) was bouncy and playful as he loved on his teammates in the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office parking lot Wednesday. But when he hopped in the canine unit, he had no idea he would go on his final ride. For Pajti, it was another day with his favorite people. “Being a canine handler, you’re with these dogs 24/7,” Canine Deputy Rob Ruble, who handles Kona, a K9-in-training, sympathized for Pajti’s current and former handlers, Brooks Grable and Tyler Barber. “The bond with them is just outrageous,” Ruble said, as teary-eyed deputies ruffled Pajti’s ears and cupped his face in their hands. That’s because the entire force was gearing up for Pajti’s procession to the vet where he would be put down. Pajti, though vibrant and cheerful as he was, suffered from Osteosarcoma, a terminal form of cancer. “It’s like losing a partner. That’s what it is. These guys have lost their partner,” Ruble added.“We have to show respect to the dogs just like we would any other deputy. They have a badge and an ID just like every other deputy out there. They’re part of the department, they’re part of our family,” he said. As Pajti’s entourage of more than 30 units—sirens blaring, lights flashing—made its way to the vet, police and fire departments stopped on the side of the road to salute the dog.Once everyone arrived at the shelter, the entire team of the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office formed a line and saluted Pajti and his handler, as the two walked together one last time, into the building.And at 5 o’clock, dispatch made a final radio call for Pajti: “K9 Pajti’s 10-7. Attention all units: This is Deputy K9 Pajti’s final ride. Deputy K9 Pajti: Thank you for your service to the citizens of Lonoke County and surrounding areas. Deputy Pajti, you have served in a special manner, and it has been an honor to serve with you. Rest in peace, we will take it from here.” Pajti had been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2013. K9 dogs cost around $8,000, and because of the size of Lonoke County, the Sheriff’s Office relies on donations from the community for funding.
