One shelter dog has started to take a bite out of crime by becoming a K-9 officer.
Rock was discovered by Fort Worth officer Kristopher Thompson when he asked a staff member at Fort Worth Animal Control’s Chuck & Brenda Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center about high-energy occupants, according to KWTX-TV in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I asked them, ‘Do you have any high-energy dogs?’ Just kind of as a joke,” Thompson said.
Enter Rock, the 18-month-old German shepherd who went from being a shelter dog to becoming a K-9 narcotics officer and has been a much needed addition to the police department.
“It’s been very valuable in our fight against the fentanyl crisis,” Thompson said. “He can alert to heroin, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and marijuana.”
Fort Worth Police Sgt. Charles Hubbard, who is Rock’s handler, said the dog already collared some suspects.
“He’ll support any units, such as narcotics and gangs,” Hubbard said. “We have the ability to go in and out of the airport, down on the tarmac, and go to the luggage. We also might work the parcel distribution facilities, such a DHL or UPS.”
What makes Rock’s find even more valuable is the cost savings as K-9s cost about $11,000, per the outlet.
“Because he was from Fort Worth and already in the Fort Worth system, he was free to us,” Thompson said.
The police in Fort Worth are used to utilizing shelter dogs on the force.
Out of the six K9s on the force, three came from shelters.
“Many people don’t realize there are high-quality dogs that have been given up on or are abandoned in these shelters,” Hubbard said.
Thompson agreed.
“We’re always going to look at shelters first because we think there’s so many good dogs at shelters,” Thompson said. “I was just floored when I walked into our shelter and saw the number of Siberian Huskies, purebred Boxer dogs, beautiful German Shepherd puppies.”
In the end, it’s a win-win situation with an especially fortunate turn of events for Rock.
“I’ve got to think that Rock thinks he’s won the lottery,” Thompson said.
