Final farewell to Hattie: York County deputies stand by valued K-9 dog to the end
A beloved member of the York County Sheriff’s Office has died.
Hattie, a K-9 dog that was part of hundreds of searches, rescues and chases, had to be euthanized due to health complications, said Trent Faris spokesman for the sheriff’s office.
Hattie was 11; that’s 77 in human years.
Hattie had survived cancer, a snake bite, a stroke, and other injuries, deputies said. One time a suspect even shot at Hattie.
Hattie worked with deputies for most of those 11 years after starting as a puppy, said Kevin Tolson, York County Sheriff.
Hattie, a bloodhound, was raised and trained by recently retired sheriff’s office Sgt. Randy Clinton.
Clinton, who retired after 35 years of service in 2019, was one of four law enforcement officers shot in 2018 during a domestic violence call in York. Clinton, sheriff’s office Sgt. Buddy Brown, and York Police Department Lt. Kyle Cummings survived.
Sgt. Mike Doty of the sheriff’s office was killed in the shooting by Christian McCall.
Clinton said Hattie was a valued and loved member of the K-9 team. And in that team, the dogs and cops trust each other with their lives.
“Hattie had no quit in her,” Clinton said. “She saved deputies, myself included, many times. She saved our lives so many times.”
Hattie was relentless in tracking, Clinton said.
“She would bark and bark and go and go,” Clinton said. “A champ, Hattie was.”
Hattie worked both with Clinton and Deputy Tim Carroll.
“She was a tough girl,” said Carroll. “A recent health issue was too much for Hattie to fight back from. After fighting so hard and for so long, her body had enough.”
When the deputies who worked with Hattie were told that Hattie’s life was near its end, they gathered late Monday to say their goodbyes.
Clinton, who worked with dogs for three decades at the sheriff’s office, said he thanked Hattie one last time. Clinton called Hattie a deputy just like himself.
“She gave her all to the people of York County,” Clinton said. “She was a hero out there finding missing kids, searching for the elderly, chasing down suspects. She was family. She will never be forgotten. I told her so too.”
