'Unstoppable': Darlington County Sheriff's Office Police Horse Buddy Dies at 24

Lina Portman3 days ago

0 1 minute read

HARTSVILLE, SC (WBTW) — The Hartsville Police Department says their beloved horse, Buddy, died at the age of 24.

Buddy's career began in 2009 with the Darlington County Sheriff's Office, where he was a star member of his mounted unit alongside owner, Captain Kyle Hause.

“Both were invincible. Buddy and Hause continued to build the unit from the ground up, adding other equine teams over time,” the agency wrote on its Facebook page. “Buddy and Hause traveled to other states and joined forces with several other agencies to help them create mounted units as well. »

Buddy held several certifications, won numerous awards, and was a presence at community events throughout Darlington County.

But he was also a key member of the police force.

“He searched everywhere, in places that vehicles couldn’t reach. He searched for missing people, including Brittany Drexel. He proudly served at Carrowinds, football games and traveled to many other states,” Hartsville police said on Facebook.

Buddy was also a fixture at NASCAR events, where he posed for photos and let people pet him.

Buddy retired in 2016 and lived with Hause.

He was “always the first to be contacted and he left the most memorable impressions on everyone with whom he came in contact. He was truly loved,” the agency’s Facebook post said.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina journalist who previously worked at the Greenwood Index-Journal, the Post & Courier and the Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and a graduate of the University of Utah. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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