A K-9 deputy new to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department died on the job this week from a heat-related illness, according to a July 11 Facebook post from the department.

Sam, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois who started serving this year, was rushed to the vet by his handler, Deputy McKenzie Saunders, “as soon as he noticed the dog was in distress after a training track,” the post read, adding that as a result, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department will be “evaluating our K-9 training program.”

The department’s 2024 report shows that Saunders was promoted to K-9 handler in 2024.

That same report also shows that in 2024, the department had eight K-9 handlers and nine K-9s to assist in drug sniffs, explosive sweeps, violent criminal tracks/apprehension and missing and endangered person tracks.

Six of the K-9s were “German shepherds, Belgian malinois and shepherd-malinois mixes used for tracking/apprehension and narcotics detection.”

One was a Belgian Malinois “used to track/apprehend and is explosive sniff-trained.” The report also details a bloodhound used to track missing and endangered persons, and a German shorthaired pointer used for tracking, article searching and narcotics detection.

At the time of the report, one sergeant and two master deputies managed five handlers.

Lexington County’s 2024-25 budget details $12,000 in operating expenses for canine supplies, including dog food and training. The budget also details $1,009,747 in appropriations for the K-9 unit.

“Though early in his career, [K-9 Sam] was already more than just a partner to his handler, Deputy Saunders. Sam was a trusted teammate and a protector. His loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of working alongside him,” the July 11 post read. “Please keep Deputy Saunders and our K-9 unit in your thoughts as they mourn the loss of a partner and friend. Rest easy, K-9 Sam. We are forever grateful for your faithful service.”