Putnam K-9 Bolt Set To Retire From Narcotics Work Friday

Friday will be the final day of work for a noted member of the Putnam County Sheriffs Department.

K-9 Bolt began serving thee county in 2015. He will retire Friday, set to live with Sheriffs Department Lieutenant Richard Cobble.

“It’s going to be a challenge for him to slow down because we go wide open every day,” Cobble said. “He’s with me now, and he’s sitting back here in the back now, but when we’re on the move, he’s up, moving, bouncing, barking around. I live on about 20 acres, so we got plenty of room to exercise and stay mobile. We’ll have a lot of time to play in the yard and things like that. So I’m going to have to keep him busy.”

Bolt is a Belgian Malinois. Cobble said health issues led to the decision to retire his partner.

“He’s got joint problems, arthritis, things like that, just slowing down,” Cobble said. “The typical age for retirement for a Belgian Malinois like him is generally at age six, seven, like that. Bolt is now ten and a half. So he’s well past his service life.”

Cobble said the dog has worked several hundred cases during his time with the Sheriffs Department. His specialty is narcotics. Bolt is certified in marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.

“He is classified as a full patrol narcotic canine,” Cobble said. “He does apprehension, building search, tracks, drug search.”

The County Commission voted last week to surplus the dog, a normal process for county property. Cobble said alpha dogs like Bolt would have a hard time adjusting to a new owner.

“He would accept no one else as his handler at his age now,” Cobble said. “I’m going to love to keep him till his final days.”