BREW CALLS IT A DAY

Rockwood Institution Drug Dog Retires

After five years and 37 drug seizures at Rockwood Institution in Stony
Mountain, Brew is being sent into retirement.

Brew is a seven-year-old German short-haired pointer, who has spent
most of his life keeping inmates at Rockwood from obtaining illegal
drugs.

His handler, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said Brew
is still at the top of his game.

"He's had a good run," Brew's handler said. "The nose these dogs have
is phenomenal. He's done an amazing job. It's time for him to relax.
We've found a good home for him. He'll just get to be a dog now with a
very loving family."

Brew's handler said the pair share a special bond.

"It's the ultimate bond," he said. "He comes home with me at night.
We're very close. It's going to be difficult coming to work without
him."

Brew has been responsible for over $120,000 worth of drug seizures at
Rockwood. His handler says often times when people see the pair coming
they turn from them and try to sneak away.

"He can't be fooled," the handler says. "He can even smell remnants in
a person's pocket. If someone had drugs in their pocket the day
before, he would know. He gets rewarded for detecting the odour of
drugs, so he's made it into a game. It's all about the reward."

Brew's handler carries a Kong, a big black indestructible ball in his
pocket, and the only time Brew gets to play with it is when he finds
the odour of drugs on someone at Rockwood. "Nobody is safe," the
handler says. "Anyone can be searched while on the grounds."

Brew was the first drug dog at the institution and has been certified
every year by Canada Border Services Agency.

The job of searching for drugs is not an easy one.

"The first four dogs I trained with all failed," the handler says.
"Brew has done everything asked of him."

To celebrate Brew's retirement, staff at Rockwood had cake and ice
cream last Thursday.

"There are a lot of people very attached to him," the handler says.

Normally, a drug dog is only allowed that type of interaction with its
handler.

"Since the decision was made to retire him, I'm different now," the
handler says. "I've never let people pet or play with the dog before.
Now, I've softened up a little. He's really happy to see people now
because he knows he can get petted."

During his time at Rockwood, Brew has been important to the security
at the institution.

"Keeping narcotics out of Rockwood keeps inmates and staff safe," the
handler says.