If you thought that humans are the only ones who retire – you’d be glad to know that dogs in service do too.

After years of rescuing, searching, raiding, and keeping us safe, dogs in law enforcement also have a peaceful life to look forward to.

Bear, a black German shepherd, celebrated his retirement after his service for the people of Taylor County.

He has been working hard for six years as a police dog and we all agree that he deserves the retirement party.

Bear joined the force in April 2015. At that time, the sheriff’s office needed a dog but had no means to acquire one. It was then that the now-closed local restaurant Moe’s Southwest Grill stepped in and donated $8,000 to help cover the expenses to train the dog for duty.

Because of this, the dog was first named Moe – in honor of the restaurant. But eventually, Moe took on the nickname Bear.

The officers shared Bear’s work, which included tracking down and locating missing children and elderly people. He also proved a capable drug officer as he possessed the skill to track four different substances: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamines.

He also helps the local police with community engagements, showing off his vast array of skills and tricks at neighborhood schools and youth organizations.

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During his time in the force, Bear has helped investigations conducted by the officials from the Abilene Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security. It goes to show that in his six years of service, his skills and intelligence proved invaluable to countless people and agencies.

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But what happens to service dogs after retirement?

According to Sara Ochoa, a small animal and exotic veterinarian in Texas and a consultant for DogLab, K9 police dogs are often given up for adoption. In her statement in Reader’s Digest:

“Most K9 police dogs will go live with a family. Most of the time, this is the same person that was their handler but could be anyone that the police force approves to have the dog,”

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But that was not the case before.

Back then, service dogs, even with their dedicated service, are often euthanized. That practice was ended in 2000 when President Bill Clinton signed the Robby’s Law.

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The handlers of police dogs are given priority when they retire. This decision comes from the fact that the handler and the dog have already established a bond. Naturally, police dogs also adjust well to civilian life, making them good boys and girls to their adoptive families.

As Ochoa shared to Reader’s Digest:

“These dogs usually adjust very easily to home life. They are kept with a family during their working time and once it is over can easily adjust to living with kids and a family. Most of these dogs are trained to know when they are on the job and when they are not.”

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As for Bear, he will be spending the rest of his days with Deputy Brandon Abbott. He is his current handler.

The members of the community shared expressed their gratitude and congratulatory messages for the dog hero. Some even warned Abbott to spoil Bear.

This just goes to show that no matter who or what you are, if you serve the community well, the people will cherish you and the work you did.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Facebook – Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, People, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Flickr