A canine handler and sheriff's deputy from Berkley County, S.C. has filed a lawsuit against the county, claiming he was not paid for his employee attendance while working overtime.

Deputy James Lamar Blakely is suing the county for back pay for working over the holidays, overtime hours and for time spent taking care of his dog, which the county uses for police investigations.

Blakely, who has worked for the sheriff's office since 2001, and as a member of the canine unit since 2008, is seeking payment for time spent "feeding, watering, grooming, bathing, exercising, cleaning up after, training and bonding" with the dog.

Blakely has filed a collective action suit under the Fair Labor Standards Act. According to the Act, canine handlers must be paid for dog maintenance, including time invested with the dog and through reimbursements for money spent on the animal.

Under the parameters of the case, any Berkley County officer who has been denied overtime or back pay in the last three years may join in on the case to seek damages. So far, another deputy from the Berkley County sheriff's office has joined the suit.

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