Beloved Sheriff's K9 'Jax' Dies Unexpectedly

MURRIETA, CA — The Riverside County Sheriff's Department and community members are mourning the loss of a beloved canine who died unexpectedly after experiencing epileptic seizures. 'Jax,' who had a knack for getting inmates across the county to suddenly and quickly dispose of their contraband, was just 7.

Sheriff's officials say Jax was taken to California Veterinarian Specialists in Murrieta for cluster seizures on Sunday, and despite efforts of veterinary staff, died later that night.

The canine, who served the county for six years, worked with deputies in the Corrections Division, where he was trained to sniff out things like narcotics, cell-phones, and alcohol. He would regularly visit all five county correctional facilities on a weekly basis.

"Inmates at our facilities knew when Jax arrived, and when his loud bellowing bark echoed, it would trigger the sounds of toilets flushing as inmates discarded contraband in a last-ditch effort not to be caught. Jax enjoyed his work and it showed," the sheriff's department wrote in a moving tribute to the K9.

The dog also had the unofficial title of the 'Handsomest Dog In The County.'

Sheriff's officials thanked California Veterinary Specialists staff for "providing such a high caliber of care to one of our K-9s in the most dire of circumstances" and said the department's thoughts and prayers go out to Jax's handler and his family.

"It is easy to forget sometimes that the service dog and handler spend more time together than the handler's family, and the bond they develop is unbreakable," Sheriff's Deputy Robyn Flores said.

Another sheriff's canine, Windy, succumbed to illness on July 25.

"We are sure that K-9 Jax and K-9 Windy are spending some time together now that they are both without pain and free to roam where they please," Flores said. "Goodbye Jax, we have the watch from here."