Updated: Police Find Lost K-9

Updated 12 p.m. Thursday

The released this statement:

"The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office has recovered a missing K-9, which belonged to the Doraville Police Department. According to Sheriff Clark Millsap, Bartow County deputies were dispatched to a residence on Highway 20 Spur in Cartersville shortly before 9 a.m. this morning. A resident observed the dog in the area and notified the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office. The dog’s identity was confirmed by his handler, Chris Day, and was immediately returned to his custody. No further investigation will be conducted by the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office."

Updated 10 a.m. Thursday

Officer Chris Day said authorities found K-9 Riki about a mile away from home. The police dog has scratches, but appears in good health. He was taken to receive medical treatment.

Day added the dog is believed to have arrived at the home at which he was found sometime overnight. The dog's collar had been removed and replaced, Day said.

Original Report

The K-9 officer who last week is asking again for our help.

This time, the cause is closer to home. Cartersville resident, former drug interdiction deputy and current Doraville Police Department K-9 Officer Chris Day believes that a police dog living at his home has been stolen.

Riki, a 5-year-old male, sable-colored German shepherd, disappeared from the area of Center and Smiley Ingram roads probably sometime between 2 and 6 a.m. Tuesday, Day said. The police dog, set to be trained to sniff out drugs, most likely could not have opened the kennel’s locking mechanism.

“We searched all day, talked to people, and haven’t found him,” Day said late Tuesday, adding that another area resident reported previous thefts of two German shepherds. “He’s not aggressive toward people at all. He would jump in the car with you if you found him on the side of the road.

“We’re hoping that’s what someone will do—just drop him off and we’ll get him.”

Day said the apparent theft has been reported to local . Anyone with information on Riki should call Cartersville-Bartow County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 770-606-8477 or sheriff's officials at 770-382-5050.