Cisco's Story
K-9 Cisco worked for the New Mexico Corrections Department for his entire life. He had been imported from Germany as a started dog in the areas of drug detection, tracking and fugitive apprehension work. When I came to him he was only 4 years old and had already been with three K-9 officers before me. During the almost 5 years that Cisco and I worked together he re certified consistantly in all three areas of training.
While Sage and I were searching for our US soldiers in Iraq, K-9 Cisco was placed in the state kennel in Santa Fe's PNM facility. Upon my return to duty I traveled to Santa Fe to pick him up. He had lost weight and there had been little time to work him. I put his weight back on him and we began working together again.
In early 2009 I was told that Cisco was going to be retired. He was picked up by the NMCD master trainer to be kept in the Santa Fe kennel. I begged them to return him to me until his final disposition had been decided. The business office at my facility wanted to follow the department's policy for the disposal of state property by placing him up for lottery. I argued that he wasn't a broken office desk! He is a living, breathing, feeling animal and deserved to be cared for as such. I wanted him to be returned home to me so that I could assure his treatment until this was all sorted out. After a few months they agreed to return him to me at his home kennel where he had lived his whole life. Although he was again in my care, Cisco's fate was still in question. They still had not fully agreed to allow me to adopt him. FInally they agreed to sell him to me for $1.00. Although I didn't have the ability to keep him due to my small home I was able to at least see to it that he had the best retirement home I could find. I placed an ad for him in a local German Shepherd rescue organization. After several applications from people from four states a man from Las Cruces drove about 200 miles to see him. Steven came into my house and immediately sat on the floor with Cisco. I offered him a seat but Steven insisted on sitting on the floor and played tug with Cisco. The interaction was so easy as if they had been friends forever. Here was a 97 pound police dog rolling on his back getting belly rubs and playing with his toys with Steven. It seemed to be a match made in heaven! We discussed Cisco's history and his training for the next two hours. Steven had been searching for a dog for a while before meeting Cisco and had actually already picked one out but after meeting Cisco, he had decided that this was the dog for him. I couldn't have agreed more! Steven had exceeded my hopes for the best placement for Cisco.
Cisco's new home is perfect! He goes to the farmer's market every weekend and they go on hikes in the mountains. Steven sometimes even takes him to work with him.
The Sage Foundation believes that this is the type of retirement all of our hero dogs deserve and we are beyond pleased at this happy ending.
My name is Steven and I live in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In May 2010, I had the honor of adopting K-9 Cisco who was recently retired from the New Mexico Corrections Department. My road to being partnered with Cisco began 22 years before I even met him.
When I was away at college in 1988, my mom, suffering from "empty-nest" syndrome, I think, decided to join a local 4-H group that was raising Seeing Eye® puppies. Her first dog was a beautiful German Shepherd Dog named Louie. Louie was one of the smartest dogs I had ever met, and so impressed me, that I knew someday I wanted to have a GSD of my own.
Fast forward to 2009… I finally found myself in a place where I felt I was ready (and financially able) to take on the responsibility of having a large breed dog like a GSD. In 2009, I attended a demonstration at work by someone who had adopted a retired military working dog. He was a GSD that had been a narcotics detection dog; among other things. He was a great dog and deserved every day of retirement that he got to enjoy. This was the first time I had considered looking for a retired working dog. Around the same time, I also learned that there is a New Mexico German Shepherd Rescue organization. I began to check the rescue's web site on a regular basis, looking for just the right dog. In May 2010, they had a courtesy listing for what was described as a retired police K-9. Two days later I met Cisco. Well, I thought the reason for driving all the way to Roswell was to meet Cisco; but it turns out that I was being interviewed. I guess I passed the interview, because I was offered the chance to adopt him and two weeks later my yard and house were ready to bring him home.
After a long ride home with me, I expected Cisco to be very confused. I also didn't know what to expect in my house, because he lived in a kennel at work. His transition from kennel-housed working dog to housedog/pet was non-existent. That is to say there was no transition period. He has just been the most perfect companion you would ever want from Day 1.
It took Cisco a few weeks to get the idea of retirement. Every time we came home from a walk or running errands, the first thing he would do was conduct a quick search of my living room and bedroom. When he was satisfied that nothing was amiss in the house, then he could go to the water bowl. Now we get home and he sits in the living room waiting for me to take off his collar.
He loves to take walks in the neighborhood; reminding me if it gets late in the day and we still haven't gone. He also enjoys going to the Las Cruces Farmer's Market. He loves other dogs, especially little ones, and has never been aggressive toward any animals. A lot of kids in my neighborhood love Cisco and come out to see him when we are walking by.
He is an extremely adaptable dog and fits in with whatever happens to be going on. I've taken him to work a couple of times and he just makes himself at home with the six other guys who work with me. I figured he would settle down in my office so he would be ready to go anytime I moved. Surprisingly, he chose a spot in the central common room where he could see everyone's office and the front door. He made it his business to keep an eye on everyone. Of course it also made him more accessible for ear scratches and a quick game of tug-o-war. I knew he fit in when I looked out of my office and saw him pulling the boss around in his rolling office chair!
I underestimated just how much responsibility I was taking on. But the paybacks are immeasurable. He has brought a lot of fun and enjoyment to my life and to others around me. I was truly blessed the day I brought Cisco home to be my partner.