Beloved retired Fresno County K-9 passes

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A beloved retired Fresno County Sheriff’s Office K-9 has gone “to heaven,” the sheriff’s office announced on Friday.

According to deputies, K-9 Mikey passed away this week surrounded by his family. His health had been declining since late 2024. The sheriff’s office described him as the “epitome of a working dog” and a “social, charismatic” companion.

Mikey was a Dutch Shepherd who was born on July 6, 2011, in the Netherlands. He was selected by Deputy Kitchens in 2015 to join the K-9 team as his partner.

The sheriff’s office says Mikey quickly demonstrated his “legendary status” early in his career. The K-9 was beloved by the Kitchens family and all law enforcement officials who worked with him.

“He had the great quality of being easy going, but could turn it on when it was ‘go time’. Mikey served faithfully until he was retired in 2019 due to injuries sustained during his career,” deputies said in a social media post.

The sheriff’s office says he spent the rest of his days traveling the country with his family and never left their side, becoming a “true member of their family.”