Sheriff's office drops K-9 program

Due to the departure of Deputy Vincent Dravecky, the Delta County Sheriff's Office has dropped its K-9 program. Dravecky was the partner of Hoss, a chocolate Labrador retriever trained to sniff out narcotics.

Sheriff Fred McKee says no other officers were interested in taking on the program, and Dravecky had a strong bond with Hoss.

In addition, Dravecky raised most of the funds for the K-9 project himself from private sources. Ongoing costs of food and vet bills were also covered by private donations. "The county had little invested in the animal," Sheriff McKee said.

The sheriff added that Dravecky cited personal reasons in his resignation.

The K-9 program was in effect for about a year and a half.