In Loving Memory of
K-9 HOND
October 10, 1999

Handler: Deputy Marc Newsom
K-9 Unit
Polk County Sheriff's Office
455 North Broadway Avenue.
Bartow, FL 33830.
community services - 1 863.534.0980

Polk K-9, Hond, dies at 8 By WILLIAM BYGRAVE - News Chief
BARTOW -- Hond, 8, a retired Polk County Sheriff's Office K-9, died Thursday morning at a Bartow veterinarian's office, where he was being treated for a systemic infection. Sgt. Steve Pry, who's in charge of the PCSO canine unit, said the dog had been taken to the from "some kind of an infection that spread to other organs and they couldn't control it. I hated to see it happen. He was a good dog. It's like losing one of the family." Hond, a five-year veteran with the sheriff's office, began his career in November 1994,
with K-9 Deputy Howard Martin. The dog was a Belgian Malinois, which Pry described as having an average weight of 55 to 60 pounds, or somewhat lighter than a German Shepherd, weighing in the 75 to 80 pound range. Belgian Malinois dogs are short-haired and usually have a tan or light brown coloring. "They come out of the Dane breed," Pry added. "They are a herding dog and are very intense and a very high-drive breed." In 1996, Newsom became Hond's handler until they both retired together in October 1999. According to policy,
when a deputy retires, the dog also retires, if the dog is up in years, or if it isn't feasible to give a dog to a new handler. Hond was credited with 105 arrests during his career. He was the first sheriff's office K-9 purchased by the Lakeland Association of Realtors Association fund raiser for local K-9 units. A spokeswoman for the association said the group has bought several dogs for the sheriff's office and the Lakeland Police Department. "He was a very sociable animal," Pry said of Hond. "We would send him to schools to do demonstrations. He lived with his handler as all of our dogs do." The sheriff's office currently has 19 canine teams. Hond was purchased from The Netherlands, where he was KNPV-titled. During his career with the PCSO he became nationally certified and was cross-trained both in narcotics and patrol. Pry said most K-9 deaths come after they retire with their handlers. "All of the canine officers understand what it is like to lose one," he added.