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Died – 5/26/19
Handler – Sgt. James Zebley
Johns Creek Police K-9 laid to rest after memorable career
K-9 Dano had a reputation as one hard-working dog. His final shift before retirement underscores that. In January 2017, Dano and partner, Sgt. James Zebley, were responding to a report of a stolen vehicle and, when the suspect jumped out the back window and ran, Dano chased him into the woods, over a brick wall and through two neighborhoods before locating him hiding beneath someone’s deck. And all of that in the middle of a thunderstorm. Zebley said it was “the perfect sendoff” for the K-9, who had worked eight years with the Johns Creek Police Department as one of the K-9 unit’s founding dogs. With much emotion last week, Zebley prepared for another kind of sendoff for his longstanding partner: After two years retired and living with the Zebley family, Dano died in his sleep May 26 at the age of 12. “We found him lying on his dog bed just like he does when he’s sleeping,” Zebley said. “He looked happy and comfortable, and that’s all I could ever ask for.” Zebley said it was like losing a member of the family. After more than 10 years together — eight on the job and more than two years retired at home — the two had grown accustomed to one another’s companionship. “Eight years working is remarkable for a dog like Dano,” Zebley said. “And, he was a workaholic. (When he retired), it took a lot of time for him to adjust to not going to work with me every day. It broke my heart, and he didn’t understand why all of a sudden he couldn’t go along with me to work … as much as I’d rather have him there with me, I also wanted him to have that time in retirement, when he could just be a dog.” Something that set Dano apart, Zebley said, was the dog’s ability to “flip the switch” between work and home. “He worked really hard, and he didn’t put up with a lot of nonsense,” Zebley said. “When we were at home though, he could be easygoing … even when the kids would accidentally trip over him or play aggressive with him when they were younger … or put costumes on him. Dano would just sit there and take it, and it was awesome.” The Johns Creek Police Department shared the news of Dano’s passing with the community Wednesday, calling the K-9 “a valuable asset to our department as well as surrounding agencies when called upon for service. K-9 Dano was a true warrior, an ultimate sheepdog.” Zebley concurred: “Dano had a good career. He found drugs, bad guys, missing people and he was great as well for school and civic demonstrations, when people got to meet the K-9 unit and learn what we’re all about.” Added Zebley: “He was a good bridge between the police and the community. Everybody was always interested in what the dogs were doing and what their day was all about.” During his eight years working, Dano’s days consisted of spending all waking hours with Zebley. “It’s a really unbreakable bond,” Zebley said. “I spent more time with that dog than I did my own family … if I got up, he got up with me. He was with me at work, at home, on holidays, on several vacations with the family. We were together all the time.” He said the loss “definitely leaves a big hole in our hearts, but he started suffering from hip problems and I know he was hurting. Now, at least I know he’s not suffering anymore.”
