There’s a new four-legged deputy at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) and he needs a name.
FCSO is asking the public for suggestions on its social media accounts on what to name the newest addition to the K9 Unit, a black Labrador Retriever who was born on November 19, 2021 and will be fully trained in explosives ordinance detection before he hits the streets in February 2023.
The naming contest will last a week and FCSO will announce the new name shortly afterward via its social media accounts.
After an extensive vetting process involving many K9 four-legged candidates, members of FCSO’s K9 Unit selected the 11-month-old dog from Southern Coast K9 in New Smyrna Beach to join the FCSO K9 Unit. He has already begun his explosive detection training with Southern Coast K9 after getting a clean bill of health from FCSO’s veterinarian.
The new dog will spend the next six to eight weeks receiving imprint training on his own before he’s paired with Deputy First Class Nicholas Champion. The pair will then spend another three to four weeks learning to work as a team before they are certified to protect and serve the citizens of Flagler County.
Deputy Champion – who is a School Resource Deputy at Flagler Palm Coast High School – currently serves with K9 Jax, a 9-year-old golden Labrador Retriever who is also an explosives ordinance detection canine. Jax will be retired from service once the new K9 team is ready, according to Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly.
“It’s always hard to say ‘happy retirement’ to our canine partners,” Sheriff Staly said. “They’re as loyal as they come and they never hesitate to follow their handlers into any situation, including those which put their lives in danger. Jax has served well and honorably with FCSO and I’m confident our yet-to-be-named K9 will do the same.”
Jax will continue to live with Deputy Champion once he’s retired. The cost of the new dog is $10,500, which was donated to the agency by Dr. Caesar DePaço, President of Summit Nutritionals International. Dr. DePaço has donated for all six canines currently in FCSO’s K9 Unit. That number will remain the same once the new dog takes over for Jax.
Marti Garziglia says
My suggestion for the new canine in the Sheriff’s Department is “Sparky”!
Marla Alger says
You should name him Boomer. He’s beautiful.
Jimbo99 says
Boomer.
Laura Coleman says
Dynomite
Wendy says
Boomer
Tom B says
Boom
Elizabeth Martinez says
The black lab is beautiful. I would name him PEPPER!!!
Ronald G. Schrein says
Blam
JTL says
Sir Ala-Kazam…..because he is magical 🪄and to top it off, a good looking dog!
Vicki Long says
How about “Circuit Breaker” – Breaker for short.
Mary says
A name that will protect him.
Skibum says
I was going to suggest Sparky or Boomer before seeing that those names have already been suggested. So, how about Nitro, which sounds like an appropriate name for a K-9 that specializes in explosives detection?
HTL says
That beats my Sir Ala-Kazam all to you know where! That is an awesome name for him!
MC says
I would name him Champion – Champ for short ;)
He’s adorable!
Robert Joseph Fortier says
Or sparky…
Doug says
Name it “Dog” and be done with it.
Tank says
Happie wallgren Stark says
Ray says
Snoopy
Michele Schaeffer says
How about Radar??
Danm50 says
Tick tock in Japanese would call him TikTok
Geezer says
Bam-Bam would be a nice name.
Rin Tin Tin……too long.
I too thought of “Boomer.” If you think about it–it’s bad luck.
Geezer says
Good one!
Geezer says
Buster!
Jimmy Mac says
What a beautiful doggie ! I like the name ” NITRO ” for him.
MeToo says
I love the name Champion! It goes with his partner! Congratulations Nick on your new partner! Holly Hill misses you!