CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office is mourning a K9 officer after the dog died unexpectedly during the weekend. Deputies described K9 Zeus as “one of the agency’s greatest patrol dogs.”
Zeus handler, Deputy Chris Hryc, was out of the county and brought Zeus to an animal hospital to be kenneled. “This is a common practice for K9 handlers to ensure their dogs are properly cared for while they are away,” deputies said.
While at the hospital, Zeus developed bloat, a condition most common in large dogs, including German Shepherds. He was found dead Saturday morning.
Zeus worked with Dep. Hryc for almost five years. “The duo was responsible for an extraordinary amount” of arrests, deputies said. “Their teamwork led to hundreds of drug arrests, thousands of dollars and vehicles seized, multiple catches of suspects, and more.”
“When Dep. Hryc and Zeus showed up on a call or traffic stop, they were a force to be reckoned with,” Sgt. Ryan Glaze, head of the K9 unit, said. “They truly created a safer environment for everyone. K9 Zeus is irreplaceable and will truly be missed by all of us, especially those who worked alongside of him.”
