PRESS RELEASE – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams joined agencies from across Western North Carolina earlier this month for the WNC Regional NAPWDA Workshop held in Franklin, N.C., according to a sheriff’s office announcement.

The training event, which took place during the week of Nov. 4, brought together canine units and their handlers for regional collaboration and skill development.

The sheriff’s office highlighted recent investments in its K-9 program, noting that Sheriff Farmer has added three new canines to support enforcement efforts. According to the release:

• K-9 Niko was donated to Jackson County by a family in Cashiers.
• K-9 Ziva was purchased using assets seized from drug-related cases.
• K-9 Aries was acquired through a grant.

The agency emphasized the strong working bond between canines and their handlers, and credited teamwork as essential to successful operations.

The handlers recognized for their work with the program include Sgt. Austin Holland, Corporal Albin Gashi, and Corporal Brent Gunter.

The sheriff’s office also thanked regional agencies for their partnership and expressed appreciation to the community for its ongoing support.