[Kartographer]

New Mexico ping

[manc]

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.

[Norm Lenhart]

Fallout NV/Rex ping

I know a guy that’ll take him. Elvis fan too...

[Mercat]

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.

[Yo-Yo]

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.

Handlers usually keep their partners at home while off duty. Where was Rex kept during off hours?

[BitWielder1]

Depends on the dog of course but I've heard good things about ex-police dogs in families.
They are used to obey commands and don't attack unless ordered to do so.
An experienced owner, someone who already had a K9 would probably be best.

[envisio]

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!

[LibWhacker]

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.

[Varda]

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.

[Will88]

"The average retirement age of a police K-9 at [Albuquerque's police department] is around 7 years old," Espinoza says.

Retire at seven? Just early middle age for a dog. Surprised at that. Dogs I've had didn't show age until around ten.

[chrisinoc]

Without knowing this particular Belgian malinois’ temperament, I would agree with the retired handler’s decision.

In general, the Belgian malinois’ their prey drive can be tremendous and unlike the German shepherd they never seem to have an off button.

See these two examples, Belgian malinois and German shepherd K9s:

http://abc7.com/pets/rialto-k-9-who-mauled-4-year-old-boy-will-retire-police-say/535006/

http://ktla.com/2014/03/26/wounded-anaheim-police-k-9-bruno-is-protector-for-partners-family/

[awelliott]

...the officer couldn't take his work partner home because he has a small child.

In law enforcement, this is known as a clue. I Hope Rex finds a good home...

[Pelham]

Anaheim Police Officer ‘Devastated’ by Shooting of K-9 Partner ‘Bruno’

Days after this photo was posted on the Anaheim Police K9 Association’s Facebook page, Bruno was shot while on duty on March 20, 2014. The caption for this photo stated Bruno was “working double shifts lately – protecting Anaheim residents at work and protecting his new family member at home.”

[Carthego delenda est]

“Rex is currently in the custody of Animal Services, and it’s possible he could be euthanized, in part because he’s deemed to be too old to bond and work with a new handler.”

Thanks for the ping. Man, I’d hate to see that beautiful dog killed for no reason other than *they* think he may not be able to bond with a new handler. I’d easily take him on. It’d be great to not have to go through the whole puppy stage. He’d have acres to run at my place and could join me on my daily 5 mile walk. It certainly wouldn’t be very ‘just’ to kill him after all that service he’s provided. Sheesh!