Sheriff Wayne Ivey Sidekick, Brevard Comfort Dog and Ambassador, K-9 Junny Passes Away March 25

Bloodhound Junny was Spokesdog, Influencer and Ambassador for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office

Junny was Brevard’s comfort dog and ambassador, a natural anti-stress advocate. He was also Sheriff Wayne Ivey’s shadow, a constant presence wherever he went, be it schools, county commission meetings, parades, speaking engagements, or special events. From the moment Junny arrived in 2014 as a ten-week-old pup, Sheriff Ivey knew the hound was special.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office is profoundly saddened to announce the passing of Sheriff Ivey’s dedicated and loyal companion, K-9 Junny, on Tuesday evening. A memorial service will be announced in the near future.

Commander K-9 Junny was originally gifted to the Sheriff’s Office by the Jimmy Ryce Center to search for abducted and lost children in 2014.

“On behalf of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, we would like to personally thank the thousands of people who participated in the ‘Name Our Puppy’ contest,” said Sheriff Ivey in March 2014.

“We are truly amazed by the overwhelming volume of support in helping us name the newest member of our Agency. Incredibly, over 700,000 people were reached through the contest by our social media Facebook page and online reporting. We received over 8,000 name suggestions that were each unique in their own way.

“Our team reviewed the impressive list of names and officially announced the winning name and identity of the person who submitted the entry this afternoon at a Sheriff’s Office Promotional Ceremony.

“One of the names submitted was unique and unanimously liked by the entire selection committee. Raquel Santana, a Brevard County student, was the first of six to submit the selected name.”

Junny will be forever remembered as an ambassador for the protection of children and pets, and was honored by Space Coast Daily with the following special Central Florida Humanitarian recognition in 2019:

He is tall, dark, and handsome, with soulful brown eyes and a luxurious mane of rust-colored hair. He is caring, affectionate and steadfast. He turns heads and lights up eyes whenever he strolls into a room.

Like many males, he can be a little slovenly, but his huge, loving heart more than makes up for that small fault.

Before you rush out to try and snag a date with this dreamboat, be aware that he is Junny, ambassador bloodhound for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Moreover, his heart already belongs to Sheriff Wayne Ivey and vice versa.

“My wife, Susan, says Junny is my comfort dog,” said Sheriff Ivey.

In truth, Junny is Brevard’s comfort dog, a natural anti-stress advocate.

He is also the Sheriff’s shadow, a constant presence wherever Ivey goes, be it schools, county commissioners’ meetings, parades, speaking engagements or special events.

He has trod the stage, albeit as a cameo, during Space Coast Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker,” where he played, well, himself, to old-time law enforcement officer Ivey.

“The audience went nuts,” recalled Ivey.

In fact, Junny was so popular that he has been asked back to reprise his role this year at the King Center.

From the moment Junny arrived nine years ago on May 6, as a ten-week-old pup, Ivey knew the hound was special.

“A lot of bloodhounds are all over the place and not very disciplined, but not Junny,” he said.

The pup was a gift from the Jimmy Ryce Center, which has donated more than 18,000 bloodhounds to police and sheriff’s departments across the country.

Junny and nine canine partners at the Sheriff’s Office are gifts from the Center, created in the memory of the nine-year-old Florida boy raped and killed by a sexual predator in 1995.

Junny’s name, selected from more than 5,000 entries in a name-that-puppy contest, honors the memory of Junny Rios-Martinez, another little Florida boy who died at the hands of a sexual predator.

“When we saw that name in the entry, we immediately said that is it,” said Ivey. “That name means a lot in our community.”

The boy’s mom proudly pinned Junny the hound’s badge on him when the dog became an official K-9 member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

First and foremost, Junny is a working dog, and whenever a search and rescue mission is needed, he and his nose are at the ready to join the other nine bloodhounds in the department.

He keeps himself fit for the job through weekly training with the K-9 team.

His other job is serving as an ambassador for the Sheriff’s Office, and here his genial personality shines as he makes everyone he meets feel happy and at ease.

“People are so receptive to him,” said Ivey.

During the Milk and Donuts sessions, Sheriff Ivey hosts at elementary schools across the county, Junny is ever-present and ever-loved.

The program aims to get to kids before they get in trouble by connecting them with law enforcement in a positive, informal and approachable way.

“The kids just get to ask me any questions they want,” explained Ivey.

They also get to pet Junny, and it is not unusual for the hound to be touched by more than 300 of his adoring young fans in the space of a day. A veritable hog for love, Junny can never get enough.

“If he doesn’t get petted, he will put out his paw to remind you,” said Ivey.

As befits a superstar, Junny enjoys his downtime in a well-appointed condo that features a photo of his favorite human, Sheriff Ivey. He has earned to luxury digs, for he is a very special pup.

“Everybody loves Junny,” said Ivey.

“Junny is a very special dog who I think truly knows that he was put here to bring a smile to everyone’s face and to carry on the name of a very special young man who will never be forgotten in our community.”

FILM STAR: Junny is also a movie star, appearing regularly with Sheriff Wayne Ivey in his many productions promoting public safety and rooting out dangerous criminals. Above, Sheriff Ivey and Junny talk about the Space Coast’s stellar drop in crime rates in this Florida Sheriff’s Association presentation of “Behind the Badge.”

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