SHERIFF'S NARCOTICS DOG DIES OF OLD AGE

K-9 Rusty, an adorable sandy-haired terrier who worked as a Palm
Beach County sheriff's narcotics dog for 13 years, died of old age Monday.

Rusty, 19, had retired from his badge-carrying duties in January
2003, said his owner, sheriff's deputy Tom McElroy.

"He's just an awesome dog," McElroy said Monday. "Everybody loved him
and he was respected by all the other K-9s."

McElroy took him in as a pet after Rusty retired from his years of
sniffing out narcotics at airports, seaports and aboard the sheriff's
ocean-going power boats.

McElroy, a marine unit deputy, was alone with Rusty in 1998 when they
chased a boat loaded with marijuana 8 miles offshore. With Rusty at
his side, McElroy drew his.45-caliber pistol and ordered the
suspected smugglers to surrender.

Bouncing around the boat during drug patrols took a toll on Rusty's
hips, McElroy said.

When Rusty retired, McElroy purchased Rusty from the sheriff's office
and decided not to pick a replacement work dog.

The sheriff's office announced Rusty's passing in a agency-wide
e-mail on Monday, saying the terrier was a "loyal partner" to McElroy
and "faithfully served" the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office put Rusty into service in 1989 after rescuing
him from the dog pound. He was one of the longest serving K-9s and
frequently was enlisted by federal agents for narcotics detection duties.

"He's been on television and in the papers a lot," McElroy said.
"Everybody remembers him when they see him."