Posted on 09/22/2015 12:12:45 PM PDT by Kartographer
A 9-year-old police dog named Rex is ready to retire from the force. That presents a quandary for the Albuquerque, N.M., police department: what to do with a devoted and capable dog whose law enforcement training makes it a challenge to find him a new home?
In announcing Rex's retirement Monday, the department also outlined a sad story. The dog's handler recently retired from the force — and though the two have emotionally bonded, the officer couldn't take his work partner home because he has a small child.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
New Mexico ping
I’m surprised Keri Brandenburg didn’t bring charges against Rex too.
why is it a challenge to find a home? Surely the handler usually keeps the dog as a pet or I know I would take the dog.
Handler has little kids at home. Wise move.
The couple of K9 deputies I know have kept their dogs, though they do take their dogs home all the time as if they were a pet.
I grew up with an ex K9 WWII German Shephard dog in the home. Great dog but hated mailmen, must have been the uniforms? Dog died in 1956, 5 years later they still would not deliver mail to the home.
Fallout NV/Rex ping
I know a guy that’ll take him. Elvis fan too...
I would take him. No small children in my life sadly and we raised a dog that wanted to eat children. We broke him of that early on but sadly .... just kidding. He learned that small children can be trained to throw frisbees. Once he got that figured out he loved children, living children, not as snack food.
Handlers usually keep their partners at home while off duty. Where was Rex kept during off hours?
Did you ever try throwing small children around? ;-)
Most likely in a kennel behind the house........
This dog should retire on a cozy couch with all the kibbles he wants and not a care in the world for the rest of his life.
Wait... thats what my dogs do... and they haven’t even done anything!
they don’t fly as far but their screaming makes them easier to find in the dark.
You grossly underestimate a german shep’s brains, skills ability to make decisions. After owning three in my life, I believe they are the smartest dog out there. Most dependable companion going. Rest assured in the setting, the dog would accept and love the child. Also? Provide a great guardian for safety.
So your children aren’t safe around K-9 police dogs? Good to keep in mind next time you and your family walk past one in the airport or someplace else. Or is one just not safe around kids when he’s off the leash?
All any adopter is going to get if he adopts such an old dog (apart from what the dog might do to a kid when the animal is off the leash) is heartache and vet bills galore.
Thanks for the ping, Kart. I’m sure they will screen potential owners and this great dog will find a good home.
I think someone will give him a home. Police dogs run the gamut from very well trained to poorly trained. Whether they’re good around kids is a very individual thing. One of my clients had a demo police dog that was great with kids.
Labs.
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