Weaverville, CA – Trinity County Sheriff’s Office K9 Kash died from infection-induced cardiac arrest on Aug. 8, after having fallen ill the day prior.

K9 Kash’s handler, Trinity County Sheriff’s Sergeant Scott Cavalli, rushed his partner to the Trinity Animal Hospital in the early morning hours of Aug. 7, after K9 Kash began acting abnormally and refused to eat, the department said in a press release.

Animal hospital staff worked to diagnose the cause of K9 Kash’s illness, and “made every effort to comfort and care for [his] needs,” the agency said.

At approximately 2:15 p.m. the following afternoon, K9 Kash went into cardiac arrest due to an infection. Despite the hospital staff’s efforts, the K9 passed away, with Sgt. Cavalli at his side.

The duo had worked together since K9 Kash joined the department in December of 2012, and were based out of the agency’s Hayfork substation.

According to the sheriff’s office, Sgt. Cavalli and K9 Kash “made an outstanding team” as they served the residents of Trinity County in the years that followed.

“K9 Kash was utilized in hundreds of cases over his career…both in narcotics detection and suspect apprehension,” the press release read. “In his last week of service, K9 Kash was responsible for removing over one pound of methamphetamine from the streets of Trinity County.”

The sheriff’s office extended its condolences to Sgt. Cavalli and his family, and noted that K9 Kash would be “greatly missed.”

“The bond the handlers and their families have with these amazing canines are very special,” Meyer’s Police K9 Training wrote in a Facebook post announcing the officer’s death. “Thank you for your service Kash, you will always be remembered.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office and Sgt. Cavalli in the loss of K9 Kash.