CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) -- The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of their beloved K-9 officer who suddenly died in late July after only serving the community for two months.

According to the sheriff's office, their one-and-a-half-year-old Dutch Shepard, K-9 Zable, and his handler were returning home from working a shift on July 21 when Zable experienced a medical emergency while walking from the patrol unit to his pen. The K-9 was rushed to the emergency vet in Tyler, where he died.

"Zable was then taken to Texas A&M University for a necropsy, where they advised that Zable passed away from Myocarditis caused from Chagas Disease," officials said. "Chagas disease is caused by a protozoal parasite, T. cruzi 'kissing bug.' Chagas disease is most common in Mexico, Ce

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