Happy ending for retired drug dog
Published: August 1, 2006
Rocky the dog gave his best years to the state of Washington.
When he got hurt recently, the state decided not to pay an expensive veterinary bill.
But the story of the “pound puppy” who developed into one of the best drug-sniffing dogs in the state has a happy ending, thanks to those who know and love him at the McNeil Island Corrections Center.
Rocky’s tale began about five years ago when the Labrador retriever mix with a great nose and a ball-chasing jones wound up in the service-dog program at McNeil.
Under the tutelage of handler Terry Hartman, Rocky learned to sniff out everything from methamphetamine to cocaine.
His reward: Steady work rooting out drugs at the McNeil Island prison and the chance to run down a ball once in a while.
And the pooch can sniff.
He’s so good that other Western Washington law enforcement agencies requested his services, Hartman said.
He rarely let them down.
In 2004, Rocky made what’s believed to be the biggest find by a drug dog in state history: 750 pounds of marijuana squirreled away in a Lakewood storage unit.
“He was probably one of the best dogs we’ve ever had,” Hartman said.
His hard work won him accolades from his bosses as well.
“Rocky has been a tremendous asset to the Department of Corrections as well as the citizens of the state of Washington,” according to a Corrections news release.
But Rocky started slowing down recently, hampered by a degenerative hip condition that veterinarians managed with pain medication.
The state decided it was time for him to retire and in June worked out a deal for Hartman to adopt Rocky, said Judy Hubert, a spokeswoman for the McNeil Island Corrections Center.
Not long after, “The Rock,” as he’s known on the island, blew out the knee in his right hind leg. Everyone, the state included, believes his long career contributed to the injury.
“It took a lot out of him,” Hubert said.
Only surgery – at a cost of about $4,000 – could fix the problem.
But the state wouldn’t pay.
Corrections officials, always sensitive to budget issues, couldn’t justify the expense because Rocky can’t work anymore, Hubert said.
“We decided we’ll find him a good home with someone who will take care of him,” Hubert said. “Then you have to move on.”
But his former colleagues at McNeil Island weren’t ready to abandon their bud, she said. In their off time and with the state’s blessing, they raised money to pay for the surgery and searched for a veterinarian who might perform it at a discount.
All told, they collected $1,800 towards Rocky’s operation, Hartman said.
Last week, Dr. Tim Gintz of Tacoma put Rocky’s knee back together for $1,000.
The operation was a success, and Rocky is recovering at Hartman’s Tumwater home.
“Thank goodness things turned out the way they did for him,” Hubert said. “He has a good home, and people are taking good care of him.”
Now, Hartman and others plan to use the remaining $800 raised on Rocky’s behalf to start a foundation for retiring law enforcement dogs.
“We want to be prepared if something like this happens again,” Hartman said.
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