Giving a dog a break; K-9 Bosco is retiring from the Austin Police Department
Published 11:05 am Thursday, September 25, 2014
Bosco, an Austin Police Department K-9, gets a little exercise Wednesday afternoon. The 8-year-old Belgian Malinois is scheduled to retire over the next few months as he ages out of active duty. — Photos by Trey Mewes
A good dog is getting a good retirement.
Bosco the K-9 unit is set to leave the Austin Police Department over the next few months, according to police. The 8-year-old Belgian Malinois is aging out of the program.
“He’s been in it for about 8 years now, and he still probably has enough energy in him and can work the road or work the streets for maybe another year or two, but he’s taken some toll and it’s probably time for both of us,” Officer Eric Blust, Bosco’s handler and partner, said.
Bosco came to Austin at about 7 or 8 months old and is part of a proud lineage.
His father, Tazer, was a five-time national champion at the U.S. Police Canine Association’s National Field Trials and worked for the Mower County Sheriff’s Office. Bosco was one of two brothers to work for the police department. Tazer’s other pup, Ghost, had to be euthanized on Aug. 30, 2012, after several years of complications with epilepsy.
Together, Bosco and Ghost took home plenty of trophies of their own at the trials and made a name for Austin’s K-9 unit.
Officer Eric Blust and Bosco are transitioning out of the Austin Police Department K-9 program.
Blust said part of Austin’s success is its emphasis on one-on-one training rather than sending a dog to an academy like the one in St. Paul. Blust has worked with Bosco ever since the dog became part of the force.
Bosco has been trained in narcotics, apprehension and other skills ever since, and he has developed a reputation for his good work. Blust said Bosco was also known for his bite: The dog broke his canine teeth about a year and a half ago after years of training and work in the field because he would bite particularly hard.
Yet all good workers must retire sooner or later, and Bosco is no different. The Belgian Malinois usually serves on a police force for about seven to nine years, and Bosco is ready for the transition.
“He’s going to be my dog, he’s going to come home with me and be a family dog,” Blust said. “Even when he was on the job, he would come home with me and be a part of the family too. He’s good with my kids and my wife.”
Police Chief Brian Krueger said the K-9 unit will work to replace Bosco over the next few months. The Austin City Council has set aside $10,000 in the city’s 2015 budget for a new K-9.
Bosco seems to handle his upcoming retirement pretty well. He was out and about Wednesday exercising with Blust in northeast Austin and looking particularly happy to be outside.
“He’s got a lot of energy still,” Blust said with a smile.
