A 10-year-old retired K9 officer found his way into the home of Miami-Dade’s animal shelter. The German shepherd, Simon, should be enjoying his last years soaking up the sun of retirement but instead, he’s searching for a forever home.

Simon was surrendered with another German shepherd and a Pitbull by the same person for “personal reasons,” according to shelter notes.

The Urgent Cats and Dogs of Miami Facebook page writes:

He is an 10 year old male German Shepherd, estimated weight is 70lbs. He is a loving boy who gets along well with men, women, children and other dogs. He enjoys going for walks & is a retired K9 officer. He is kept mainly indoors, does well in cars and is fully housebroken.

The Police K9 Network is aware and working on a solution to the Simon situation.

Simon has brought a lot of attention to police dogs and what happens when they are no longer serving their community.

K9 Officers risk their lives just as much as their human companions, often tracking down criminals, sniffing out drugs and explosive devices, find missing people and find evidence at the scene of the crime that would otherwise be missed.

German shepherds are typically the go-to dog for law enforcement due to their ability to be trained for extreme situations. These dogs are incredibly intelligent and will serve until the reach about seven or eight. Shepherd’s live to be 11-14 years old.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton passed Robby’s Law which allows for the K9’s handler to adopt their beloved dog when they could no longer serve.

Before 2000, dogs were often euthanized after their service.

It seems only natural that the handler would adopt the K9 after the years of life-risking bonding they shared. There’s a connection only they can have.

Police dogs often suffer from things like PTSD or can become aggressive much like any service member would. After years of attack training, adapting to civilian life can be hard for these dogs which is why they are not adopted out to just anyone.

Due to the unique nature of the K9, civilians rarely have the chance to adopt these dogs.

Typically, a civilian only has the chance when the handler passes on and no one was able to care for them in their family or when the K9 has not completed their training.

There is a screening process involved with adopting a K9 much like one would go through when getting a retired military dog.

There are organizations out there that will assist in getting you a K9 but it is a lengthy process. These organizations will require home visits, interviews, a check on your finances, and much more in order to bring one of these heroes home.

In other words, do not go into the process expecting a new dog next week.

While most civilians do not have the chance to adopt K9’s, we are hopeful that Simon will find the right family to love him through his golden years.

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Source: Urgent Cats and Dogs of Miami, Sit Stay, Pet Rescue Report