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Henderson County paying $14,500 for Rento

COLUMBUS—Polk County sold its K9 Rento this week to Henderson County for $14,500. 

County commissioners met Monday and approved a purchase agreement to sell the Dutch Shepherd to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office after Rento’s handler, Jared McFalls, went to work there. 

Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright attended the commissioners meeting and says the price was decided upon because that is the amount it will take to replace the K9 and to train a new handler. 

Wright later said the sheriff’s office will be able to replace Rento with three new K9s between the money received from Rento and donations he has received in his first year in office. 

Wright said Rento is about 5 years old. He said his office has opened up requests internally to see what officers may be interested in training. Wright also said his office already plans on sending two officers for training. The sheriff’s office still has one K9 with handler Josh Kujawa and it plans on adding another soon. 

Following is the purchase agreement commissioners unanimously approved on Monday: 

THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into this the 2nd day of December, 2019, by and between the County of Polk, a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina, hereinafter “Polk County” and the County of Henderson, a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina and body politic and corporate, hereinafter “Henderson County”.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Polk County is the owner of a certain Dutch Shepherd canine (K-9), hereinafter “Rento, whose date of birth is 08/02/2014 and further identified by microchip number 528093490022112, and

WHEREAS, NC General Statute 160A-274 permits any governmental unit to sell to, or purchase from any other governmental unit any interest in real or personal property

WHEREAS, Henderson County is desirous of acquiring Rento from Polk County, and is willing to pay to Polk County the sum of fourteen thousand five hundred ($14,500) dollars which amount is equal to the cost to Polk County to acquire and train a replacement Narcotics/Patrol K9 and to train a new K9 handler, and

WHEREAS, Henderson County is aware of the inherent risks associated with working K9s is willing to accept such risks and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Polk County from any and all claims or any cause of action whatsoever arising from K9 Rento.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of Fourteen Thousand Five

Hundred ($14,500) Dollars, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Henderson County shall pay to Polk County the sum of Fourteen Thousand Five

Hundred ($14,500) Dollars,

2. Polk County shall transfer ownership of K9 Rento to Henderson County, and
3. Henderson County shall indemnify and hold harmless Polk County from any and all claims or cause of action arising out of the K9 Rento.

This the 2nd day of December, 2019.