Holly MatkinFlagler County, FL – Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) K9 Keanu died on Feb. 14 after suffering acute renal failure, according to his department.
The FCSO announced in a Facebook post the following day that K9 Keanu had recently been experiencing medical complications.
“His condition declined rapidly and on February 14, 2023, K9 Keanu succumbed to his illness,” the sheriff’s office said.
A FCSO spokesperson said a veterinarian noticed “a mild change” in K9 Keanu’s kidney function during his checkup in November of last year, FlaglerLive reported.
“Tests were done to see if this change was caused by a tick borne or infectious disease,” the spokesperson explained.
When those tests all came back negative, K9 Keanu was referred to a specialist.
“The specialist noticed a change in Keanu’s glomerulopathy and he began receiving treatment for chronic kidney disease which later developed into acute renal failure,” the department spokesperson told FlaglerLive.
K9 Keanu, a Belgian Malinois from Hungary, was just weeks shy of his fourth birthday when he passed away, FlaglerLive reported.
He joined the FCSO in September of 2020 after being donated to the department by Dr. Caesar DePaco’s Foundation, the sheriff’s office said.
K9 Keanu served the community alongside his human partner, FCSO Deputy Robin Towns.
The duo completed their K9 team training in February of 2021.
“During K-9 Keanu’s service, he contributed to the detection and recovery of large sums of narcotics as well as the apprehension of multiple criminal suspects,” the FCSO said.
“We are saddened by Keanu’s passing as he was not only a K-9 partner to Deputy Towns but part of FCSO’s family,” the sheriff’s office said. “Rest in peace Keanu. Thank you for your service. You will be missed but never forgotten.”
• via K9s United
K9 Deputy Towns, we are praying for you and your family. We are so sorry you’re grieving the loss of your partner! Know that we love and appreciate you!
RIP K9 Keanu 🐾💙🐾 pic.twitter.com/wLlfd91uha
— ALPHA D/6 🇺🇸🇬🇧 (@DTMsport) February 17, 2023
Today, the #FCSO #K9Unit did a presentation to the Matanzas High School Law Class. #K9 Jax & Keanu even got to join in on the fun! 🤩🐾 #MHS #MatanzasHighSchool pic.twitter.com/oQAQ1rMKCo
— Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (@FlaglerSheriff) November 2, 2021
It's National Let's Laugh Day! Here's a little #K9 Keanu laugh for you! #FCSO #SuspectSaturday #CopHumor pic.twitter.com/S7eMerlFxP
— Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (@FlaglerSheriff) March 19, 2022
Congrats Deputy Towns and K9 Keanu #K9love https://t.co/qVrpPvtMb8
— Flagler Sheriffs PAL (@FCSOPAL) January 25, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Towns in the loss of K9 Keanu.
