A North Texas narcotics detection dog was celebrated on Friday as she transitions to a new job: family pet.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) organized a special party to honor a K-9 officer’s five years of service and usher in her retirement. It involved a whole lot of tennis balls.

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Ara is a Dutch Shepherd and has honed her narcotics-detecting skills not only in the field but also in competitions. In 2022, she placed sixth at the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association’s competition. The party gave her one last chance to show off her detection skills, and then she was rewarded with a room full of tennis balls and a piece of cake.

Her handler, Deputy J.D. Rubalcaba, will be taking her in now that she has retired.

The TSCO threw yet another party for a K-9 officer last November. The second birthday of Neo, a detention K-9, was celebrated with balloons, tennis balls, and a contraband search.

There are an estimated 50,000 police dogs working with law enforcement in an array of capacities across the United States. Their duties include the detection of illicit items, suspect apprehension, search and rescue, and more. While German Shepherds are the popular choice for law enforcement, other popular breeds include Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, American Pit Bulls, Bloodhounds, Beagles, and Boxers.

As reported last fall by The Dallas Express, the Dallas Police Department’s Wellness Unit added a brand-new therapy dog named Aussie to its ranks. Aussie — a Greyhound — is a former race dog that was specially trained by Greyhound Racing NSW and Greyhounds As Pets NSW in Australia. Not only does he love giving hugs and getting affection, he was specifically trained to comfort those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Aussie was shown wandering the halls of DPD, bringing comfort and companionship to police officers and staff, in late January.

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