One of the much-loved K-9 dogs with the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office needs to retire to civilian life. Keno, a German Shephard, trained and patrolled with his handler, Deputy Jordan Strope, for about 17 months. But Strope left the county to work elsewhere, and a new handler could not be found.
Undersheriff James Kiessel said that the county tried to find someone else within the sheriff ’s office who could replace Strope as a K-9 handler, but no one was interested due to “the large time and effort commitment.” Nor could they find another police department elsewhere in Michigan that could take him.
Fortunately, Keno still found a new home. Sun Dog Kennels in Traverse City boarded the police dog while his handler was absent or vacationing. The kennel’s owner, Allison Merrill, offered to buy Keno from the county for $8,000 for personal and business use.
