Chillicothe Police address K-9 concerns

CHILLICOTHE— The Chillicothe Police Department is speaking out about a complaint they received concerning their K9. The complaint said that the K9, Rin, was malnourished and skinny. Police say Rin is perfectly healthy according to the vet.

Rin is a four-year-old Belgian-Malinois that has been with the department for three years. The dog's handler, Officer Shane Simmons said the dog was up to date on his vet visits and has always been a very lean dog. Rin gets five cups of dry food a day and is constantly active. He did note that the dog has been shedding his outer coat recently which could lead to a more raggedy appearance.

The complaint was received by the department on May 8, and the dog was taken to Northfork Animal Clinic on May 9 for a wellness exam. Vet records showed that Rin has been consistently healthy throughout his regular visits. The exam results concluded that Rin is perfectly healthy for his breed and occupation.

"Rin is very fit and muscled today and has been maintaining, if not gaining throughout his visits," said Dr. Tanner Walls from the clinic in her notes. "He is of appropriate and ideal body condition for an active working dog."

Since Rin's first visit to the vet in 2019 he has gained weight, now weighing 77 pounds, which is an acceptable weight for his breed according to AKC standards.

As part of the Chillicothe K9 team, Rin is highly trained and helps police to locate drugs, suspects and evidence. He also attends events and visits schools to perform community outreach with his handler. When he is not working Rin lives with his handler and his family.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Chillicothe Police address K-9 concerns