We are heartbroken as we had to say goodbye to my retired ATF K-9 Ruthie this morning. She crossed the rainbow bridge peacefully on her bed at the age of 14 years, 3 months. I was lucky to have her as my K9 partner since 2009! She survived cancer twice, once in 2011 and again 2.5 years ago. She had great doctors (Dr. Jon Pennell and Dr. Andrew Vaughan) that kept her healthy and Project K-9 Hero sponsored her and paid for her medical bills when she was diagnosed with cancer 2.5 years ago. She had an amazing career serving the country, keeping people safe and finding evidence to put criminals in prison. Ruthie was very independent and a K9 version of a Walmart greeter. During her career she located 100's of firearms, 1000's of rounds of ammunition, post blast evidence and located a spent .22 shell casing in a Texas park that was crucial evidence in a homicide investigation which resulted in a 47 year prison sentence for the shooter. (I bought her a hamburger for that one). Her distinguished career included awards from the FBI, United States Secret Service and the US Marshal Service. She searched at numerous large events to include PGA Pebble Beach, PGA U.S. Open, PGA Shriners Open Summerlin, NASCAR, MLB World Series and All-Star, NFL Super Bowls, World 7's Rugby, PBR and NFR as well as conducting sweeps for President Obama, Former Presidents Bush, Clinton and Carter, US and Foreign diplomats, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Bill Murray and Kevin Costner have her trading card. She was always happy. I couldn't have asked for a sweeter pup! The bond between a handler and their K9 partner is a special one. Thank you Ruthie for a wonderful 13 years together! I'll always miss you and your older version of the "zoomies."