Deputy Coleton Piatt was Cane’s handler — but he also quickly became the dog’s best friend.
“A lot of people say it’s just a dog. That dog was my partner,” Piatt said. “He went home with me every night. He worked with me every day. I spent more time with him than I did most of my friends and family.
He and Cane started their career together on Aug. 8. Piatt chose Cane out of four shepherds at Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds in Wapakoneta because of his drive and “go-getter” demeanor.
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The two became state certified for duty on Sept. 25. It had been 12 years since the sheriff’s office had a K-9 unit.
But besides being a dedicated drug sniffer — Piatt said Cane had the ability to “turn it off” and be a normal, lovable dog.
Piatt said whenever he would bring Cane into the sheriff’s office, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for Cane to hop up on people’s laps and say hello.
“He was a full puppy still — loved everybody,” Piatt said. “He wanted to stay busy all the time.”
Unfortunately, it may have been Cane’s playful spirit that led to his accidental death.
Piatt said the two were playing outside and Cane was chasing a ball. The ball had gone underneath a trailer that was parked nearby.
Piatt said Cane was running at full speed and at the last second he tried to veer off to avoid the trailer — but he slid on a patch of ice and ran into the trailer.
Piatt immediately took him to a local veterinarian, who said that none of Cane’s bones were broken and sent the two home with muscle relaxers.
But later that evening Cane began to show signs that something was wrong.
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Piatt took back to the vet — by then, Cane’s white blood cell count was very abnormal.
Piatt then took Cane to MedVet in Columbus where a doctor told Piatt that Cane had abdominal bleeding, which led to other complications.
Cane died Nov. 12 in Piatt’s arms.
“Worst thing is being at home. It’s quiet. It was just cane and I — and now it’s me,” Piatt said.
But Piatt is thankful for the time he did get to spend with Cane, and the sheriff’s office has said they are making moves to get another K-9 very soon.
In the meantime, Cane’s ashes have been placed in a personalized box in the sheriff’s office, and a formal memorial for Cane will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 2.
The sheriff’s office is hopeful that their next K-9 will bring as much enthusiasm and joy to the job as Cane did.
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