Bend Police Department’s popular retired drug detection dog “Zoey” has died at the age of 13 surrounded by his family

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — It’s always a sad day when a beloved pet dies. But when it’s a four-legged retired Bend police officer, K-9 Zoey, who loved classroom visits as much as – if not more – as arresting suspects, the loss is perhaps felt even more keenly than most.

Don Barber, a retired dog handler, told us Friday of the death of his partner Zoey, whom NewsChannel 21 announced as its new drug detection dog in 2012 after four weeks of intensive training. She was a two-year-old Belgian shepherd originally from the Netherlands who lived with Barber and his family.

Zoey served the city until 2016, when she retired due to an injury and was eventually adopted by her handler, with whom she lived until her death earlier this week.

“Zoey has been deployed dozens of times throughout her career, performing her work as a police dog,” Barber said, “but what she enjoyed most was visiting the classrooms of the various elementary, middle and high schools in the Bend area.”

“In retirement, she enjoyed trips to the beach, mountains and the deserts of Oregon,” he added. “She helped raise her ‘children,’ Ella and Fischer Barber. And finally, she was best friends with her former handler.”