JACKSON, MS (WCMH/CNN)—A retired police dog found at a Mississippi animal shelter now has a new home, and the officer who dumped him has been demoted.
WLBT reports, Labrador Retriever Ringo spent nine years as a K-9, working for the Jackson Police Department. He was thought to be enjoying retirement with his handler, but that was not the case.
The man who trained Ringo found him abandoned at a shelter and adopted him.
“I don’t know that there is a word for being both hurt and mad but I was both of them. And I still am. You know it’s just, you just don’t turn your back on something like that that’s been with you for nine years. Next thing we knew, we got a call from an animal shelter in Madison that Ringo was actually being housed there. And up for adoption,” said Randy Hare.
The Jackson Police Department said in a statement they demoted the officer once they found out.
Hare said he appreciated people contacting him about adopting Ringo, but the retired police K-9 is happy in his new home.
Hare also said he questions training police dogs for the department in the future.
“All I have to go on as far as Jackson Police Department is what’s happened in the past. I know they have a new administration. I actually hope that they do better than they have in the past. But all I have to go on is the past.”
According to WLBT, when JPD found out about Ringo they implemented quarterly welfare checks on their K-9s, both active and retired.
