Tama County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Wall pictured with K-9 Kaya, the newest member of Tama County’s K-9 Unit. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TAMA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/FACEBOOK

TOLEDO – The Tama County Sheriff’s Office has another new K-9 deputy.

This past summer, the Sheriff’s Office introduced K-9 Jax as the newest member of its K-9 Unit following the retirement of K-9 Tyson. Jax along with his handler, Deputy Brandon Wall began their 12-week training in early August.

But since that time, some significant (and unforeseen) changes have taken place.

“During the first week of training it became clear that Jax just wasn’t the right fit for the type of work we do,” the Sheriff’s Office posted to social media on Nov. 9. “That is never an easy decision, but it was the right one for Jax and for our program. At the end of that week we talked things over with our trainer Steve at Performance Kennels Inc. By the following Wednesday, Deputy Wall was paired with K-9 Kaya, and from that point on it just clicked.”

The Sheriff’s Office describes Kaya as “young, full of energy, and eager to work.” She and Deputy Wall completed the full 12-week training together, earning their certifications in both patrol and narcotics through the United States Police Canine Association, Inc.

“We are thankful for Steve and everyone at Performance Kennels for their honesty and experience. That is exactly why we work with them. They help us find the right dog for the right handler and always make sure it is the best fit for both,” the Sheriff’s Office continued. “Things do not always go as planned, but sometimes they turn out even better. Kaya has already proven herself to be a great fit for Deputy Wall, for our office, and for the great folks of Tama County. We could not be more proud to have her on our team!”