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Monday, November 2, 2026Nov 2

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Hamilton County search dog killed

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photo Karma, a 2-year-old bloodhound belonging to Justin Whaley, a STARS member and a paremedic with Hamilton County EMS.

A search dog for the Hamilton County Special Teams and Rescue Services (STARS) was struck by a car and killed today after helping in the search for a missing autistic child.

The STARS team was called in around 1:45 p.m. on Woodland Drive to help in the search for the 13-year-old boy. He was found unharmed and was returned to his parents shortly after, according to Amy Maxwell, spokeswoman for Hamilton County Emergency Services.

But as responders returned to the command post area, a car came around a curve and struck Karma, a 2-year-old bloodhound belonging to Justin Whaley, a STARS member and a paramedic with Hamilton County EMS, Maxwell said.