K9 Leroy Retires, Sheriff’s Office Welcomes K9 Rhino

JASPER COUNTY, Texas — The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office is honoring the service of K9 Leroy as he officially retires and introducing the community to his successor, K9 Rhino.

When Sheriff Chuck Havard took office on Jan. 1, 2025, he brought Lieutenant Chad Ainsworth and his dual-purpose K9 partner, Leroy, to the team. At 9 years old, Leroy was expected to have only 1–2 years of service remaining. During his first few months in Jasper County, Leroy was deployed in several patrol and narcotics detection operations.

But on May 18, 2025, during a track for a wanted suspect, Leroy suddenly became ill. He was rushed to Main Street Veterinary Clinic in Lumberton, where he was diagnosed with gastric torsion, a twisted stomach that can be fatal. Leroy underwent emergency surgery and survived, but his recovery left him weakened. Recognizing his age and condition, the Sheriff’s Office made the decision to retire him.

Lieutenant Ainsworth then connected with William Dodson of Bayou Working Dogs in Evadale, where he found his new partner—K9 Rhino, a 4-year-old German Shepherd trained in narcotics detection, tracking, apprehension, and handler protection.

K9 Rhino was acquired through a partnership between the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and the Jasper County Constable Precinct 6 Office. The pair are certified in narcotic detection through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association. Rhino wasted no time making an impact—on Sept. 5, during his very first deployment in Jasper County, he assisted Jasper Police in locating narcotics.

Now retired, K9 Leroy will enjoy his days at home with his family, lounging on the couch and spending time with his “sister,” Maci.

“Leroy served Jasper County with loyalty and dedication,” Sheriff Havard said. “We’re grateful for his service and excited for Rhino to continue protecting our community.”