Vigor

Incident

K9 Vigor drowned in the Tellico River while he and his handler tracked a wanted in the Cherokee National Forest, near Tellico Plains.

Vigor and his handler attempted to cross the river but were swept downstream by the strong current. His handler was able to make it to shore but Vigor was carried further downstream several hundred more yards. Another deputy was able to swim into the river and recover Vigor but efforts to resuscitate him with CPR were unsuccessful.

The subject K9 Vigor was tracking was later taken into custody.

K9 Vigor had served with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office for five years. Vigor had previously served as a military working dog in the U.S. Army and had been deployed to Iraq.