A shelter dog from Fort Worth, Texas, named Rock has been transformed into a drug-sniffing police K-9 just months after being rescued. Sgt. Charles Hubbard of the Fort Worth Police Department believes that Rock will have a successful career and help take thousands of pills off the streets by combating the fentanyl crisis. Rock’s journey began when he was found wandering the city with his sister and brought to the Fort Worth Animal Control’s shelter, where his potential was recognized by shelter superintendent Anastasia Ramsey. The officers decided to train Rock for narcotics detection due to his high energy, hunt drive, and eagerness to work.
Anastasia Ramsey, whose husband is a K-9 police officer with the Dallas Police Department, recognized Rock’s potential and trained him to see if he had the traits law enforcement is looking for in a K-9 dog. Rock’s high prey-and-hunt drive, coupled with his sister’s softer personality, led to Rock being selected for narcotics training. Rock’s handler, Sgt. Charles Hubbard, noted that Rock’s enthusiastic nature and energy make him a perfect fit for the job, as he is always ready to work and sniff out drugs. Rock’s sister was placed as a school resource K-9 due to her softer personality, but Rock excelled in his training and work as a narcotics detection K-9.
Rock now works with Sgt. Hubbard in a specialized segment of narcotics called K-9 interdiction, where they focus on sniffing out drugs and contraband. The team is composed of task force officers under Homeland Security, and they work to uncover drugs coming through international shipments in distribution facilities like UPS, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service. Rock has been successful in detecting a variety of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, which helps prevent these substances from hitting the streets and causing mass overdoses. Hubbard emphasized that having a K-9 like Rock is essential to effectively combating fentanyl, heroin, meth, and cocaine.
After a day’s work, Rock goes home with Hubbard to his family, where he spends time with his retired K-9 companion and other dogs. Hubbard believes that Rock’s story can inspire other police departments to consider shelter dogs when looking for potential K-9 candidates. Three out of six K-9s on Hubbard’s team are now shelter rescues, showcasing the potential and skills that shelter dogs can bring to law enforcement. Ramsey sees the use of shelter dogs as a win-win situation, as it positively impacts the image of shelter pets and demonstrates that these animals have the ability to excel in specialized roles like police K-9 units.
Overall, Rock’s transformation from a shelter dog to a valuable police K-9 demonstrates the potential and capabilities of rescue animals in specialized roles. Rock’s success in detecting drugs and preventing substances from hitting the streets has proven to be valuable in combating the fentanyl crisis and other drug-related issues. By utilizing shelter dogs like Rock, law enforcement agencies can tap into a pool of talented and skilled animals that are capable of making a significant impact in their communities.
