(MS - US) Ringo, award-winning Dutch shepherd Narcotics Dog, retires

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Saturday, June 14, 2003


Narcotics Bureau retires award-winning dog



Christopher Mapp
Special to the American

After years spent thrilling crowds, making kids squeal and chasing drugs, 
Ringo is being forced into retirement. No, not the drummer who played for the 
most famous rock band in history. This Ringo is an award winning 8-year old Dutch 
shepherd with arthritic hips. He's counting the days until a pup takes his 
place at the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Hattiesburg District Office. "It's 
going to be hard to form a bond with the new dog," said narcotics agent Pete 
Robinette, the canine handler who's both worked and lived with Ringo for the 
last two years. "On the occasional days I don't bring Ringo into the office, he 
just stays in the kennel and barks and barks. He loves to go." In about two 
weeks, Ringo's replacement will make the trip to Hattiesburg from 
Czechoslovakia, where he is being purchased with money donated by the Oak Grove Optimist 
Club. Optimist Club President Randy Johnson said the organization's interest in 
raising the $5,000 needed for the new dog stems from its concern for community 
safety. "We helped raise the money for Ringo, too, about four years ago 
because, at that time, there weren't that many drug dogs in the area," said Johnson, 
also a supervisor in the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. "The new dog will 
be a multipurpose dog, and Ringo, while he won't be able to do the physical 
work because of his hips, will still do public relations work." Trained in 
Czechoslovakia, the new dog will not understand English, meaning Robinette must use 
foreign terms to command it. That's no problem, Robinette said. He already 
speaks a second language when working with Ringo, who came from Holland. "Auf, 
Ringo...Blif," said Robinette, barking Dutch commands meaning "off" and "stay" 
after the playful canine nabbed a co-worker's water bottle from the office next 
door. A renowned dog expert and friend of Robinette's, Dennis Morrow of 
Garland, Texas, will make the trip overseas to select the Czech dog. When the 
narcotics department gets the new dog, it will be trained in most areas, making it 
ready for criminal apprehension, public relations, tracking, evidence recovery 
and handler protection. The only thing it won't have been trained to do is 
sniff out narcotics, but Robinette said that's the easiest part of training. "If 
the dog has got the characteristics, you make it a game," he said of 
narcotics training. "If they have ball drive, meaning they like to play with toys all 
the time, then you just associate the toy with the scent." Robinette and Ringo 
have won numerous awards. Last month, competing in the United States Police 
Canine Association Narcotics National in Lakeville, Minn., the team finished 
33rd overall and seventh in team competition. In regional competition in March, 
Ringo placed first in obedience, third in team patrol, first in rookie team 
and fifth overall in narcotics. Ringo's narcotics exploits have also been 
published in Canine Currier's "Case of the Quarter" feature. When he retires, Ringo 
will live with Robinette, his wife and their boxers, making occasional 
appearances at public relations functions. Robinette said each time Ringo goes to a 
school function, he's an instant hit. "I always have to talk first because once 
he's in the room, it's like I'm mute. They don't hear a word I'm saying and 
the kids can't take their eyes off him. It's like they form a bond with him." 
    
    

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