Zionsville Police Dept. K9 Eso officially began retirement June 21 amid increasing health concerns. The 7-year-old Czechoslovakian Shepherd served the agency since 2013 with two handlers: Officer Wayde Knox, who moved to another agency out of state, and Sgt. Brad Kiefer, his current handler.
Kiefer began noticing Eso’s medical problems earlier this year and the K9 has since been treated at various veterinary facilities including MedVet and Zionsville Animal Hospital. Specific medical conditions include hip dysplasia, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and a growth near his spine that vets are currently treating.
Eso came to the department from Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind. As a dual purpose K9, Eso’s specialties included handler protection, tracking and narcotics detection. He will live out the rest of his life with Sergeant Kiefer.
“Eso has been a fantastic K9 for the agency,” stated ZPD Chief Robert Knox. “It’s very sad to see him go but it’s the right decision and we want him to have a great quality of life for the remainder of his time.”
With Eso’s retirement and ZPD K9 Jelka currently in recovery, ZPD is looking to pursue plans for a new agency K9 in the near future.
