National Park Service honors K-9 officer Boomer after 56 dog years of service

By Kelly McCarthy

A black lab is hanging up his leash after nearly a decade on the job with the National Park Service (NPS).

K-9 officer Boomer, who was first recruited by the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma for narcotics detection in 2011, will retire later this month.

"He has been instrumental in helping detect illegal drugs in his home park, the local community, and on special assignment to other National Park Service units," the National Park Service said in a press release about the pup's loyal service.

Boomer has held a number of certifications from the state of Oklahoma, the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association and the American Police Canine Association, as well as other associations and agencies.

Some of Boomer's favorite duties included performing demonstrations for local schools and community groups, according to the NPS.

"He also enjoyed working with his colleagues in the Murray County Sheriff’s Department, the Sulphur Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Davis Police Department, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation," the NPS said.

The lovable black lab also enjoyed "travelling to other areas to assist enforcement efforts at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Park, Wind Cave National Park, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, and Black Hills, Boise, and Challis National Forests."

Boomer plans to spend the next few weeks with his successor, K-9 Officer Rex, before he fully settles into retired life.

He will remain in the Sulphur area and plans to "spend more time with his family, receive as many belly rubs as he can guilt them into providing, chase squirrels, and continue to be a very good boy."