WSP academy graduate Lilly begins K-9 duties

Last May Whitman County Sheriff's office lost a deputy to cancer. The German Shepherd K9 officer, Unix, was nine years old when he died from an aggressive form of cancer. He had served with the sheriff's office since 2011.

Now filling the void left by Unix is Lilly, who was purchased using money forfeited from drug activities, and brought to Washington from Germany.

Teamed up with Sgt. Keith Cooper, 15-month-old Lilly graduated from the Washington State Patrol K-9 Academy in Olympia Dec. 4. Sgt. Cooper actually took a different dog with him to the training, but when that dog didn't pan out Sgt. Cooper was matched with Lilly.

Fifteen months is young for a dog to start as a K-9 officer; most start training between 18 months and two years.

Sgt. Cooper said Lilly was pretty mature for her age and has very high hunt and prey drives.

"She's super focused on work. When she gets her harness on, she's all about work and doesn't care about anything else," he said.

When not on the job, Lilly still likes to play a lot and be a puppy. Her favorite toy is a rope jute.

After spending eight weeks participating in a state-sponsored narcotics K-9 program, Lilly can now smell out methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

Washington State Patrol has one of the largest non-federally funded K-9 training programs in the nation.

Sgt. Cooper has been Whitman County's only K-9 handler for the past 13 years. Lilly is his third K-9 deputy.

Bosco started the program with Sgt. Cooper in 2005. Unix was teamed with Sgt. Cooper from 2011 until his death this year.

Now retired, Bosco is 17 years old and lives with the Cooper family "with more grey in his fur than black."

The Coopers have four dogs at home, including Lilly. Lilly gets along with their Chihuahua the best.

Lilly should be able to work between seven and 10 years before she retires, and that will put Sgt. Cooper at about 20 years as a K-9 handler.

At that time a new person should be taking over the county's K-9 program.

"It takes a lot of extra work," Sgt. Cooper explained. The pair have 16 hours of mandatory training every month, and Lilly will still do demonstrations as Unix had done.

For those in the community who want to show support for Lilly and the county's K-9 program, donations are always appreciated to meet costs of dog food and veterinary bills. Donations can be left with the Whitman County Sheriff's Office.