WESLACO – The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office said they have to return one of their K9 units to the group that donated it.

Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Division Chief Joel Rivera said the K9 was donated last year from a group called K9s4COPs.

Part of the agreement was the K9 handler, along with the K9, would take a certain number of patrol and narcotics classes in Houston.

But due to scheduling and time conflicts, Rivera said they were unable to attend them all within the time period. This caused the organization to request them to return the K9.

A K9 can cost about $10,000 and can bring in roughly several hundred pounds of narcotics a month to the county.  We’re told the county uses them for patrol and in jails.

Rivera said they have a good relationship with K9s4COPs and plans to continue working with them in the future.