Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Macho, the first-ever K9  at the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office, has passed over the Rainbow Bridge.

On March 9, personnel from the Sheriff’s Office lined up outside the veterinarian’s office to give Macho a good final send-off. 

K9 Batman, handled by Deputy Aaron Haden, also was present for the send-off– whining and jumping as Macho walked through the vet’s door with his handler, dad, and best friend, Deputy Gentry, to be put to sleep. 

Macho was brought on in 2021 after Deputy Carson Gentry was able to use his Veterans’ Administration benefits to get the dog.

According to Major Anthony Purcell, it was only a few months ago that Macho was “not acting like himself, and that’s what caused the handler to take him to the veterinarian, which then, ultimately, that’s how the cancer was discovered. [The Cancer] was just so widespread when we found it that there was not a whole lot the veterinarian could do for him.” 

Macho had several tumors, and was only given days to weeks to live.

“It spread a lot quicker than we even expected. So I think the handler [Deputy Gentry] had to make a tough call for quality of life for the dog and that was a tough call but I think he made the right one,” Purcell said. 

At the end of Macho’s days, Deputy Gentry still brought the K9 into work– mostly so that Macho could spend time with Deputy Gentry and the rest of the Sheriff’s Office.

“Macho wanted to work. He worked until he fell over. That’s just how dogs are. Deputy gentry got to spend some time with him. We let (Gentry) bring [Macho] into work even though he wasn’t in full [health],” Purcell said. “Gentry expected [Macho’s death] so he got to say his goodbyes and on the final day, the family got to spend a lot of time with him and I think that brought him some closure.”

“We enjoyed having Macho around. He would come in during roll call with the guys, and up to the front office. He was a really good dog to work with, and he’s gonna be missed. But we got another dog coming on line and hopefully down the road we’ll get another dog for Deputy Gentry. The goal was to have three dogs on line but we’ll miss Macho, he was a good dog,” Purcell said.