Ontario County K9 Loses Battle to Cancer, Remembered for Years of Dedicated Service

K9 Fennell, a retired police dog known for his service in the Finger Lakes region, has passed away following a battle with cancer. Fennell, who retired in December 2024, served alongside Sergeant Dana Egburtson, contributing to public safety efforts through his expertise in patrol, tracking, and nitrate detection.

Fennell and Egburtson graduated from Syracuse’s K9 Patrol School in June 2017 and later attended Nitrate Detector School. Over seven years, the duo worked together on a variety of law enforcement operations, including clearing schools, government buildings, and public spaces of potential threats. Fennell played a role in ensuring the safety of thousands, including concertgoers at CMAC.

Beyond security operations, Fennell assisted in search-and-rescue efforts, locating missing and wanted persons, and responding to critical calls. In 2019, he aided in the search for a missing suicidal individual, and in 2022, he contributed to the rescue of a beaten child. His work also supported homicide investigations, including assisting in the location of a murder weapon in Waterloo.

Following his retirement, Fennell spent his final months with Egburtson and his family. His legacy continues through K9 Ernie, another service dog trained for law enforcement duties.

Fennell’s contributions to public safety left a lasting impact on the community.