Before his retirement eight months ago, Ranger, a police narcotics dog, had a successful career at the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.
Since April 2004, the black Labrador Retriever had not only sniffed out several pounds of illegal drugs but also performed at community events and was loved by police officers and local residents alike.
Ranger, born Nov. 2, 2002, died on Saturday after a successful tenure as a police partner – and man’s best friend.
“He loved being around people and children,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Ranger will be missed by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, and mostly by the handlers that were lucky enough to be able to have him as a partner.”
A search was launched for the missing dog after it was discovered that he had escaped his handler’s fenced-in yard Friday night. Ranger was found on the side of Highway 211 after being hit by a car and was rushed to a veterinarian, who pronounced Ranger dead.
Ranger was good at his job, authorities said. In the past decade, he helped locate about $300,000 worth of drug-seized funds, 15.5 pounds of cocaine, 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine, several vehicles containing drugs and other illegal narcotics and paraphernalia.
Ranger will be laid to rest on Tuesday, March 11 at 1 p.m. at Oak Rest Pet Gardens at 2691 Harbins Rd. in Bethlehem.
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