Geauga Park District, and Geauga County as a whole, will lose a great asset with the impending retirement of K-9 Rotar, who has served county residents since 2012.
The cause is a medical condition called degenerative myelopathy of the spine, for which there is no cure, according to handler and owner Ranger Ed Hunziker.
K-9 Rotar, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, got his professional start in 2012 with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office. At that time, he was among five K-9s on duty. He joined Geauga Park District’s Ranger Department in June 2016 with fellow K-9 Sniper.
Working separate shifts, K-9s Rotar and Sniper have becoming rather famous faces in Geauga County, dividing and conquering the various public appearances required of a ranger K-9: schools and safety towns, pancake breakfasts and parades, festivals and science fairs, nursing homes and special events.
K-9 Rotar has also assisted county law enforcement with school and vehicle sniffs for narcotics, and located lost hikers in the park. He is trained in narcotics and obedience, state certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Association, and nationally certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association. K-9 Rotar is also certified in article search and tracking.
His career has included more than 200 deployments, Hunziker said.
“Rotar has always enjoyed meeting and greeting his neighbors in the county, with the added benefit of strengthening community relations between law enforcement and the public,” Hunziker said.
Another double purpose of having K-9s on duty in the parks is educating about dog safety: how to approach and pet a dog, leash laws and picking up dog waste.
Hunziker said his partner has never shown a preference for one type of event over another. “He really just likes being around people,” he said.
To arrange a conversation with Ranger Hunziker about K-9 Rotar’s retirement, please contact him directly at 440-226-7014 or echunziker@geaugaparkdistrict.org.
