K9 Kait, Chelan County’s narcotics-detecting canine, passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 22, the Chelan County Regional Justice Center announced.
Kait, who worked at the jail for more than two years, was recently diagnosed with chronic hepatitis of the liver. She had been undergoing treatment for liver disease for about a week. She passed away on Tuesday with her handler, Corrections Deputy Jacob Lewis, at her side.
“Working K9s are typically viewed as pieces of equipment that are no different than the pair of handcuffs I carry on my belt,” Lewis said. “However, the bond that I shared with Kait goes much deeper than a simple piece of equipment. Kait was my partner, my best friend and a member of my family. Anyone who met Kait quickly discovered her unconditional love. Kait did not have a mean bone in her body and accepted everyone she met. She tolerated me dressing her up for holidays and doing short TikTok videos. Kait was one-of-a-kind, and I know her absence will be felt by the entire community, both locally and across the world. Kait is irreplaceable, and I was extremely blessed to be partnered with such a beautiful soul.”
A 7-year-old border collie, Kait was a key component to the Regional Justice Center’s drug interdiction program. She arrived at the jail in November 2020, making her the first canine to be employed in the Chelan County jail and only one of two canines in the state working in a county or municipal jail. Kait, who was originally a rescue from Quincy, previously served two years at the Tulalip Tribal Police Department.
Kait’s unique sniffing ability and training in the detection of six odors, including fentanyl, allowed her to assist with drug detection for federal agencies and, most recently, area high schools. In addition, Kait and Lewis were regular fixtures at local events and schools, serving as ambassadors for the jail.
“We will never be able to quantify just how many lives Kait and Deputy Lewis may have saved by detecting drugs before they were able to get to the incarcerated,” said Chris Sharp, director of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center. “When Kait came to us, we didn’t realize how much we would also rely on her to serve as a friendly face when educating the public about the work we do here at the jail.”
The jail recently was exploring getting a second narcotics-detecting dog in partnership with the Washington State Department of Corrections, which Lewis would have worked beside Kait until her retirement. Lewis has been working with perspective dogs to ultimately find a replacement.
A community effort to raise money for Kait’s medical costs wrapped up recently. Money raised will be used to cover any remaining medical costs; any additional dollars will to be used in preparation for Kait’s eventual replacement. It is unknown at this time if a public memorial service will be planned. For those members of the public wishing to send thoughts of condolence, you can email the jail at jacob.lewis@co.chelan.wa.us.
“I want to thank the entire community for their outpouring of support that we received over the last few months as we attempted to help Kait get healthy again,” Lewis said. “I also want to thank the veterinary teams of Animal Hospital of Wenatchee and Pet Emergency Clinic and Referral Center of Spokane for their hard work, care and compassion as they helped treat Kait.”
Last Updated: 09/18/2023 01:10 PM
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Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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Assessor's Office Community Meeting: Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee
Posted by: Chelan County Assessor
Chelan County Assessor Wes Cornelius invites property owners and all interested parties to attend one of four community meetings scheduled this spring throughout the county.