October 20, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 20, 2015
For more information:
Amy Styles, Young-Williams Animal Center
(865) 215-6668
(865) 437-6599
Natalie Bailey, Moxley Carmichael
(865) 544-0088
(865) 599-4051
Argo recognized for distinguished service to community
Today, Young-Williams Animal Center unveiled a memorial in honor of Knoxville Police Department K-9 Argo, one of the department’s most distinguished police dogs. A stone engraved with Argo’s years of service was placed in Young-Williams Animal Center’s Memorial Garden.
Jeff Ashin, Young-Williams Animal Center CEO, second from left, presents a memorial brick to Knoxville Police Department K-9 Officer Darrell Sexton on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The shelter surprised the officer with the presentation, brick and a memorial on its property.
Darrell Sexton, KPD officer and Argo’s partner for seven years, was surprised at the presentation with a memorial brick for his home. Argo, an 8.5-year-old German Shepherd, had worked for the department since 2008. He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and died Aug. 22. Sexton cared for Argo during his illness when he could no longer report to duty.
“Argo was an important member of the Knoxville animal community and community-at-large,” said Jeff Ashin, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center. “We wanted to recognize his life and service by memorializing Argo in our Memorial Garden. All pet owners who want to honor or remember a beloved pet can do so with an engraved brick in our Walkway of Life.”
In Argo’s seven years of service to KPD, he was responsible for a significant number of seizures of illegal drugs and guns, apprehensions and arrests. Argo responded to nearly 600 police calls and assisted with more than 200 arrests.
Knoxville Police Department K-9 Officer Darrell Sexton remembers his late partner Argo at a memorial at Young-Williams Animal Center. The shelter surprised the officer with the presentation and a memorial brick for his home.
Bricks for the Walkway of Life can be purchased for a $100 donation to Young-Williams Animal Center. Donors can honor a family member or favorite pet or memorialize a special animal or person with an engraved brick. For more information, visit www.young-williams.org/donations/walkway-of-life/ or call (865) 215-6664.
To learn more about Young-Williams Animal Center, visit www.young-williams.org or check out Young-Williams Animal Center on Facebook.
About Young-Williams Animal Center
Young-Williams Animal Center reminds the community to please spay and neuter your pets.
The Young-Williams Animal Center is the official animal shelter for Knox County and the City of Knoxville. The center is a nonprofit organization, community-supported through public and private donations, that turns no animal away and is dedicated to the sheltering and placement of animals, general animal welfare, and public education of companion animal issues.
Young-Williams Animal Center is located off Sutherland Avenue at the entrance to John Tarleton Park at 3201 Division St. Young-Williams Animal Village is located at 6400 Kingston Pike adjacent to Deane Hill Drive. Both locations are open seven days a week from noon-6 p.m.
For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including detailed driving directions, call 865-215-6599 or visit www.young-williams.org.
