Duke, the 6-year-old German shepherd trained to detect illegal drugs, has been retired from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Marcus Siebken told the Butler County Board of Supervisors this month that the sheriff’s office is in the process of receiving a new dog.
Duke, who has lived with Siebken, his handler, and his family for several years, has lost most of his eyesight and will spend his remaining days as the Siebken family pet. The county board approved selling the animal to Siebken for a token dollar, but Siebken will assume the feeding and veterinary costs for the animal.
Siebken said the cause of the dog’s blindness is not known for certain, but he added that helping with drug detection is stressful for the dog and may cause some extra pressure on the eyes.
Siebken explained that a new dog will be purchased with privately donated funds for $6,500. The dog will come from breeders in Germany or Holland and be shipped to Alabama for special training before undergoing additional training with the Nebraska State Patrol.
Deputy Anthony Whitmore will be assigned to handle the dog when it begins service.
The food and veterinary care for the new dog will also be donated.
County Attorney Julie Reiter said the service of a drug dog is critical for law enforcement.
“We did go through a lot of hearings where the probable cause (for criminal charges were) developed because of Duke’s indication,” Reiter said.
Duke had 150 successful deployments on drug cases leading to convictions. Without a drug dog in action, deputies will rely on dogs deployed in other counties or with the Nebraska State Patrol to be called in when a search needs to be conducted.
Special Thanks to Larry Peirce / David City Banner-Press
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Because most K-9s have already been living at their handlers’ homes, retiring there might not seem like a big change. But the change in a dog’s role in life can cause him great confusion.
It’s difficult for a K-9 to sit at home while his handler goes to work-without him. K-9s love working, so it’s hard for them to give up their role as partner.
After retiring, your K-9 will miss working and will be confused when you leave without him. It’s important that he feel loved and remain active. If you stop working as a K-9 handler when your dog retires and you miss that kind of work, remain involved with K-9 training at your department or through a police dog association.
