“Today, I say goodbye to more than just my K9 partner—I say goodbye to my best friend.”
Those were the words of Deputy Cameron Ball with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office when announcing the passing of his K9 partner Art.
“For the past three years, K9 Art stood by my side with unwavering loyalty, courage, and dedication,” Ball said. “During his service with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Art was deployed 121 times, located seven individuals on tracks, assisted in the arrest of 36 people, and helped seize 81 items of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, including more than 163 grams of methamphetamine.”
Ball went on to say, “But to me, his accomplishments and statistics only tell a small part of his story. Art was my partner, my protector, and my best friend. He taught me patience, loyalty, and what it truly means to trust someone completely. We spent countless hours together, faced difficult situations side by side, and built a bond that can never be replaced.”
K9 Art was named after the lead character in the “Terrifier” movie franchise, Art the Clown. He lived up to his name, striking terror in the hearts of bad guys, not only from Russell County, but throughout the region.
K9 Art assisted the Lebanon Police Department, St. Paul Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police and the United States Penitentiaries.
“The silence left behind is overwhelming, and there are no words that can fully describe the loss I feel,” said Ball. “Yet I take comfort in knowing that Art lived a life of purpose and honor and made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.”
He concluded, “Thank you, Art, for every track, every deployment, every long night, and every moment of friendship. You served with courage and left this world as a hero.”
