Rock, a shelter dog rescued from the streets of Fort Worth, Texas, has found a new purpose as a drug-sniffing police K-9. Sgt. Charles Hubbard of the Fort Worth Police Department believes that Rock will have an impressive record of service to the city in the years to come. As part of narcotics detection operations, Rock has already helped take hundreds of thousands of pills off the streets, making him an invaluable asset in the fight against the fentanyl crisis. His high energy and prey-and-hunt drive make him well-suited for the job.
Last summer, Rock was found wandering the city with his sister and brought to the Fort Worth Animal Control’s Chuck & Brenda Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center. Shelter superintendent Anastasia Ramsey recognized the potential in Rock and his sister and decided to test them for their ability to learn quickly and show interest in working. Rock excelled in these tests, leading to him being chosen for a two-week trial with the Fort Worth Police Department. Impressively, Rock and his sister both completed narcotics training.
Rock’s energy and drive impressed the officers, who saw the potential for him to excel in a specialized segment of narcotics called K-9 interdiction. In this role, Rock works as a sniffer dog, helping to find drugs and contraband but not apprehending suspects. His high energy and enthusiasm make him an ideal fit for this job. With Hubbard as his handler, Rock can be found on duty checking out bulk shipments at distribution facilities such as UPS, FedEx, or the U.S. Postal Service.
Hubbard and Rock work as task force officers with Homeland Security, operating under Customs and Border Patrol. Their work is crucial in detecting opioids and other drugs that come through international shipments. Rock has already made significant finds, including fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, on traffic stops and in storage facilities. Hubbard takes Rock home at the end of each workday, where he spends time with his family and their other dogs, including a retired police K-9.
Hubbard hopes that Rock’s story will inspire other police departments to consider shelter dogs when looking for K-9 units. Three out of the six K-9s in their unit are now shelter rescues, showing that these dogs can be just as capable and effective as bred police dogs. Ramsey sees this as a win-win situation, benefiting both the dogs and changing perceptions about shelter pets. Shelter dogs are often just as capable as bred dogs and can excel in roles such as police K-9s with the right training and guidance.
