Justin Whaley and Karma
Special Tactics and Rescue Services (STARS) will say their goodbyes on Friday to a member of their team, Karma, the two-year-old bloodhound who lost his life Sunday afternoon searching for a child in the Ooltewah area.
Visitation will be on Friday from 3-4 p.m. at the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department Training Center at 9100 Snow Hill Road. Services will follow at 4 p.m. Internment will follow at Hamilton County STARS Station 1 at 9022 Career Lane.
Memorial donations may be made to Hamilton County STARS and will be used for their K-9 program.
The Hamilton County Special Teams and Rescue Services (STARS) found an autistic boy on Sunday afternoon, but then lost their K-9 "Karma."
The unit responded to 4511 Woodland Dr. at 1:45 p.m. to search for a missing 13-year-old boy. The child was found unharmed and was returned to his parents a short time later.
When responders were returning to the command post area, a car came around a curve and hit the STARS search dog. Unfortunately, Karma did not survive the accident.
Karma was a two-year-old, certified bloodhound belonging to Justin Whaley, a STARS member and a paramedic with Hamilton County EMS.
Officials said, "On behalf of everyone in Hamilton County Emergency Services, we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Whaley Family for their tragic loss.