Sheriff's Dept. mourns passing of K9 Blaze

NEWTON — Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada recently announced the death of Search and Rescue dog, K-9 Blaze who died suddenly, but peacefully, in his sleep over the weekend.
A former service dog for the visually impaired, “Nate” was training at the Seeing Eye in Morristown when he was adopted by Lt. Ellicott in April of 2008. A gentle, docile, dog, Blaze as he was renamed by Lt. Ellicott, was so peaceful that he actually had to be taught how to bark. It was this calm, yet playful, demeanor that made him ideally suited for Search & Rescue work. Upon the completion of his initial training, K-9 Blaze became a certified Search & Rescue dog on October 19, 2008.
Throughout his 8-year career with the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, K-9 Blaze responded to, and assisted in the location of, over 40 missing juveniles, adults, and seniors, throughout Sussex County and the surrounding area.
Strada joins the men and women of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office in mourning the passing of K-9 Blaze and our thoughts are with Lt. Ellicott and his family.