Vienna City Council retires K-9 officer

VIENNA -- In about a month the Vienna Police Department will say goodbye to one of its own with the retirement of K-9 officer Dara.

During Thursday's meeting of the Vienna City Council, the council gave its unanimous approval to the retirement and also approved the transfer of ownership to her current handler, Officer Zachary Schaad.

Vienna Chief of Police Mike Pifer said Schaad was an officer with the department for a while, left to work at the Wood County Sheriff's Department and then returned to the city. He is now preparing to leave the department on April 16 to pursue a new career path.

Since 2015 Schaad has been Dara's handler.

"Dara the K-9 has performed most excellent here and with her work with the Vienna Police Department," he said. "When a K-9 retires there are some things you need to consider and first and foremost is what is in the dog's best interest. In this case I think it is in her best interest that her ownership be transferred to Zach."

Pifer said the working years of a K-9 are between five and nine years. He said Dara, who was born in Slovakia in 2010, is eight, putting her in that spectrum.

"If you do end up transferring a dog to a new handler sometimes they have issues taking to a new handler," he said. "We would have to train a new K-9 handler which is substantial, so we are not going to do that."

Dara and Schaad have a strong bond, Pifer said.

Pifer said Dara was certified in criminal apprehension, tracking and in finding several different drugs.

"She has worked well in numerous major drug finds for us and she and Zach have worked well with other agencies," he said.

According to the resolution, there are restrictions in owning a retired service animal like Dara. State law allows counties and cities to transfer service animals ownership to their handlers when they are retired.

Dara will be retired from any law enforcement work or any work related to law enforcement. She is to serve the purpose of being a domesticated pet and will not be used for public or private investigative purposes.

Schaad is to be fully responsible for the care, maintenance and any liability arising from the dog and agree to indemnify the city of any future claims resulting from or caused by the dog beginning at the end of Dara's shift on April 16.