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Died – 3/19/19
Handler – deputy David Blanton
Final Journey for Loyal Macon County K-9 Officer
Officers pay their respects for a loyal K-9 member of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. K-9 officer Zee died over the weekend. Tuesday, she took her final journey to South Carolina. K-9 Zee first worked in a Georgia prison, then came to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office in 2009. By 2011, she was partnered with deputy David Blanton and stayed with him until her retirement in 2015. Many human officers gathered Tuesday at the Franklin Veterinary Hospital to honor Zee. “Zee was a very loyal partner,” says Blanton. “It’s a good feeling knowing that she always had my back,” he says. Zee, he says, was a fierce and dedicated officer on the job. The sheriff notes her hard work responsible for several busts. “Sniffing out drugs, marijuana, methamphetamine,” says Sheriff Robert Holland. Zee had a loving side too expressed every day at home with the Blanton’s. “She was vicious enough to do what she needed to do on the street but soft enough to let a 3-year-old girl put braids in her hair while she was at home,” says Blanton. Zee became David and wife Amanda’s 6th child.“She protected our children and our family and just really became another child to us,” says Blanton’s wife Amanda. So, it came with great grief that Zee suffered a stroke Saturday from which she did not recover. “This is the last call for Macon County Sheriff’s Department K9 Zee,” announced over the police radio.But the Blanton’s take comfort from the show of support from fellow officers from Macon and surrounding jurisdictions…a memorial and last patrol ride all the way to South Carolina. Residents lined the route.“Show our respect,” says Terri Head. “I’ve seen a demonstration by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office with the K-9’s. They’re impressive,” she says. “It means more than we can tell anybody because it shows the magnitude of what she did,” says Amanda. “The outpouring of love actually made this a little bit easier on us,” says David. “She was a protector of the house, protector of the wife and kids whenever I was not there. So, she means a lot to us and we’re going to miss her dearly,” he says. From the police radio, a last call for K-9 Zee” K9 Zee is now 10-24 Assignment Complete. 10-42 End of tour of duty here on earth. Be forever guarding the streets of gold.” K-9 Zee will be cremated at a facility in Greenville. She lived a long and full life and died at the age of 14 and a half.
