West Manatee, Florida Arson Pooch Retires
But the 8-year-old arson dog's retirement is clouded by the discomfort she suffers due to hip arthritis and a bad back.
"It's sad that it has to be this way, and under these circumstances," said her handler Capt. Kurt Lathrop of the West Manatee Fire Rescue on Wednesday.
Penny, who was trained at the Maine State Police Criminal Justice Academies Arson Detection School to sniff out flammable chemicals, started working with Lathrop at West Manatee in 1998.
Since then, the duo helped make 37 arrests leading to 24 convictions, according to a West Manatee Fire Rescue news release.
Both of them, with another handler-and-dog couple, cover a 10-county area in the Tampa Bay district, Lathrop said. Penny and he respond to calls from Manatee, Sarasota, Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee counties.
Lathrop describes Penny, who lives with his family, as a laid back and easygoing pooch around the house, but enthusiastic about her work.
"She kicks it up a notch," he said.
After retirement, Penny will go to live with Lathrop's son, 20-year-old son Daniel, who is in the Army.
Penny's replacement, a 2-year-old golden Lab named Rose Lee, is just as cool as her predecessor, and a bigger bundle of energy.
"She takes me for a walk," Lathrop said. "But Penny is having a hard time adjusting to the relationship change."
Donated by Southeastern Guide Dogs, the arson dog at the station is just as excited as Penny about working. In fact, she worked her first fire in Bradenton on Wednesday.
"She worked her first case, and you can tell that she's been in (a fire scene) because of her light coat," said the station's Deputy Chief Brett Pollock. "(Lathrop) will have to work harder to keep her well-groomed."
Her fellow firefighters are full of praises for the out-going top dog.
"Without her, it makes cases harder to prosecute and harder to solve," Pollock said. "She is an outstanding asset to the county and to the region."
Despite her discomfort while working fire scenes, Penny does not realize yet what her retirement entails, especially the departure from her master.
"Penny is having a hard time adjusting to the relationship changes," Lathrop said. "But I love her to death and she will always have a special spot in my heart."