Most decorated Sauk County K-9 retires after 6 years of service

Sauk County’s most decorated K-9 officer retired Monday after more than 1,960 service calls, according to a release.

Cooper, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been in service for six years, but has been battling Lyme disease for over three years, officials said.

Cooper is trained in narcotics detection, tracking, building searching, evidence searching and handler protection, according to the release.

He is credited with over 635 narcotics arrests during his career and an estimated $105,000 in narcotics and paraphernalia being removed from the streets of Sauk County, officials said. Cooper had over 70 successful tracks of lost or missing people or suspects who fled from law enforcement.

Cooper is one of two K-9s in the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, according to the release. K-9 Fedor was added in 2013.

Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said because K-9 calls for service have increased over the last five years, he would like to add another canine to replace Cooper.

A new K-9 officer will cost about $14,000 and is made possible by citizen donations, officials said. To donate to the program, a check or money order can be made out to the Sauk County K-9 Fund and dropped off or mailed to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office at 1300 Lange Court in Baraboo. An account is also set up through the Greater Sauk County Community Foundation at the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce building.