Warwick's K-9 Viking retires after more than 7 years of service

WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — K-9 Viking returned to the Warwick Police Department on Monday after a five-month battle with cancer.

The 9-year-old German Shepherd was welcomed by the mayor and the police chief, along with a room full of officers and staff members, to celebrate his retirement.

The crowd cheered and applauded as he trotted into the building, gripping his kong between his teeth and wagging his tail.

“It’s just a testament to Viking and the relationships that he built throughout the agency,” Officer Aaron Steere, who is K-9 Viking’s handler, told NBC 10 News. “He would come in here off leash and he’d make his rounds to different officers. He knew who had treats and who didn’t. He’s just been a great dog all around.”

Speaking of treats, K-9 Viking feasted on a special cake in the shape of a dog bone made just for him.

“Congratulations, Viking!” the icing read before the dog demolished it with his hungry tongue.

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During the last seven-and-a-half-years, K-9 Viking and Steere have made approximately 800 self-initiated arrests.

The duo is responsible for multiple drug busts, seizing narcotics such as Fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.

They have helped track suspects and solve crimes in Warwick, and also assisted Rhode Island State Police.

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“Even though we’re on the Warwick Police Department, we’re typically tasked a lot of times when other departments call for mutual aide. Our department’s always been good in allowing us to go,” Steere said. “Whether they are looking for a missing child, or a bank robbery suspect, or if we’re going out to search a car for narcotics, Viking’s made his rounds over the years. He’s been at just about every municipality in the state.”

Seizing opioids, said Steere, has been critical amid the nationwide crisis.

“These dogs take pounds of it off the streets,” he said, adding that he’s been working with K-9 Gary since K-9 Viking was diagnosed. “It only takes grams to overdose for a human being, so any amont that we can take off the streets, that’s saving lives out there.”

Mayor Joseph Solomon attended the celebration and presented K-9 Viking with a citation from the city, acknowledging the dog’s work with the force. He was impressed that the K-9 helped Steere seize 200 pounds of narcotics and $1.5 million in cash.

“That’s why we nicknamed Viking ‘the million-dollar dog,’” Solomon said.

Col. Rick Rathbun also praised K-9 Viking. He said the dog has been vital at K-9 demonstrations and other community gatherings.

“He’s able to go out to various events, whether it’s National Night Out and things like that,” Rathbun said. “That’s kind of the unsung side of Viking and how instrumental he was to community policing efforts.”

K-9 Viking was diagnosed with cancer in May. He underwent multiple surgeries and arrived home about two months ago.

But it’s been a long road to recovery.

“I had noticed a cyst growing on Viking’s right hind leg, so I had taken him to the vet to have it looked at and upon doing a physical exam, they thought it seemed a little odd,” Steere said.

Veterinarian’s scheduled a surgery and removed the mass, which tested positive for cancer.

“In that time, while they were waiting for those results to come back, he developed a real severe infection and it ended up being MRSA, E. coli and a staph infection,” Steere said, noting that they were immediately referred to Tuffs Medical Center in Grafton, Massachusetts.

Viking was in and out of the hospital for several weeks before they eventually admitted him. He stayed there for more than a month.

“They did a tremendous job,” Steere said of Tuffs. “I think they saved his life -- they saved his leg. They were able to heal all the infections.”

Still, one wound was particularly troublesome. No matter what they tried, it wasn’t healing properly.

“He had an incision from his chest all the way down to his groin area,” Steere said. “On his other leg, they basically had to do a skin flap, where they had to flap all that skin over the wound that he had. They wanted to make sure they had all the cancer, so they cut what they call ‘wider margins’ but because they cut so wide, they couldn’t seal the two ends together. So, they had to use a skin flap in order to heal up his leg.”

Steere added that his wife, Bethany, helped K-9 Viking during his recovery. She spent a lot of time applying topical sprays to help soothe the dog’s wounds.

K-9 Viking has returned to the Warwick Police Department after a five-month battle with cancer. The 9-year-old German Shepherd was welcomed by the mayor and the police chief, along with a room full of officers and staff members, to celebrate his retirement on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Steere)

But Bethany said seeing him back at the station again and watching him interact with his co-workers was uplifting.

“It was a very tough time for the family but we’re just glad that he’s home and happy and healthy,” she said.

Steere agreed, adding that K-9 Viking is finally back to his old self. His fur is growing back where they had to shave it for surgery and his wounds have healed.

“I mean, he’s like a new dog again,” Steere said. “We’re very happy to see home having a good quality of life at home and he certainly deserves a good retirement, as well. He’s had quite a career for one dog.”

K-9 Viking, along with the rest of the Warwick Police Department, gained national attention for appearing on the A&E show, "Live PD."

But for Steere and his family, K-9 Viking has always been a star.

“I don’t think the public realizes the impact these dogs have on the community,” he said.

K-9 Viking will celebrate his 10th birthday in March.