Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Confirms Death of K9 Zable

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (TXAN 24) – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of K9 Zable, a 1½-year-old Dutch Shepherd, who passed away on July 21, 2025, while being rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic in Tyler.

Zable had been with the department for just two months, arriving from Hill Country Dog Center after being purchased with drug seizure funds. He and his handler completed five weeks of narcotics and apprehension training in Pipe Creek, Texas, before returning to serve Cherokee County.

After completing his shift on July 21, Zable suffered a sudden medical emergency while walking from his patrol unit to his pen. Despite immediate transport to an emergency vet, he was pronounced deceased.

A necropsy at Texas A&M University revealed Zable died from myocarditis caused by Chagas disease — a parasitic illness transmitted by the “kissing bug” that can cause sudden heart failure in dogs, particularly the young. The disease is most common in Latin America but is increasingly diagnosed in southern Texas.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that Hill Country Dog Center fully reimbursed the cost of Zable and his training.

Sheriff officials expressed gratitude to the center for their support during the unexpected loss.