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Junny was the first Brevard County Sheriff’s Office mascot, and while Junny served so many purposes here during his time, we believe his future and destiny was set in motion on May 6, 2014, when he was donated to our agency by the Jimmy Ryce Center.
Sheriff Ivey decided to have a puppy naming contest for our newest K9 and as thousands of names poured in from our community members, one name truly stood out, Junny. The name Junny was suggested in honor of Junny Rios-Martinez, an 11 year old boy, who was abducted and murdered in Brevard County in 1991. Sheriff Ivey believed this name was perfect, as bloodhounds are used to help search for missing and abducted children, but what he didn’t know at the time was that May 6 also had another significance, it was Junny Rios Martinez’s birthday.
Junny’s initial role with our agency in 2014 was searching for missing children and seniors with dementia, but in 2018 he took on the role of being our mascot and Sheriff Ivey’s partner!! Junny’s mission transformed from here as he became an ambassador in sharing with our community and people everywhere the importance of bloodhounds to law enforcement agencies. He visited schools, assisted living facilities, charity events, hurricane responses and of course his favorite, riding in any parade!! Through all of this, he also carried out another important mission, sharing the life and legacy of Junny Rios-Martinez.
Junny advocated alongside the ASPCA, to help change the state legislature to make sure that pets were included in domestic violence injunctions. This change not only helped protect pets and include them in the injunctions, but it allowed their owners to escape these dangerous situations and find safety knowing their pet was able to be with them, as well. In October 2022, K9 Junny was inducted into the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville, honoring not only his dedication and service, but that of law enforcement bloodhounds across the globe!!
In February 2025, our agency opened a brand-new facility that was named in his honor, “K-9 Junny’s Animal Medical Center!!” This Medical Center serves to provide the necessary care to all animals that cross the threshold into our Animal Care Center. Junny was a reminder to everyone that “not all victims can dial 911” and encouraged the community to report animal abuse.
Junny was without question deeply loved by our agency, our community, and of course, Sheriff Ivey!! As we said before, Junny’s destiny was set in motion the day he was donated to our agency. We believe this more because when our Junny passed away he was 11 years old, and so was Junny Rios-Martinez. Junny’s journey here on Earth may have ended, but he served his purpose exactly how it was destined to be, and now he is with his namesake as they are left to chase their sweetest dreams together!!
Here we hope to have his memory live on by providing safety tips through programs we offer, educational material for parents, and resources that help both families and law enforcement during difficult times such as a missing child. Of course, you can also find the direct link to all of the adoptable pets at our Animal Care Center, because Junny wanted nothing more than to help each and every one of them find their furever homes!!
