Deputy Bluey
Deputy Bluey, a four-year-old bloodhound K-9 who has served the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Tamarac since 2020, is retiring early after a devastating diagnosis.
Bluey was diagnosed with bone cancer on April 16, and the doctors are giving her between four months and a year to live, her handler, Deputy Tony Sun, shared.
“She started limping on and off in late February – early March, and we looked at different things that could have caused it, like a tendon, elbow, or muscle injury,” Sun said. “Finally, she had an x-ray and a biopsy, and it came back as bone cancer.”
He added that Bluey had another bout of cancer back in December – a mass on her face that was removed and did not seem to cause any long-term issues. Still, knowing her history, the doctors expected a repeat diagnosis.
Bluey is part of the bloodhound unit that searches for missing and endangered people, including children and those with special needs or mental illness. She joined the Tamarac team as a 4-month-old puppy with her sister Ryley in October 2020.
Ryley is “as healthy as can be,” Sun said, and will stay on the force.
The pups were donated to BSO through the Jimmy Ryce Center for Victims of Predatory Abduction, which provides bloodhounds to law enforcement agencies across the United States to help assist in missing children cases.
While assigned to BSO Tamarac, Bluey helped locate multiple missing people and brought officers and deputies in the right direction when tracking someone.
Since Bluey can no longer walk the extended distances required to search for a missing person, the agency decided to conclude her tracking career. A certified therapy dog, she can still perform those duties, so Deputy Sun called it a “partial retirement.”
“Working with a dog is one of the best jobs ever. Just having her by my side makes my days easier, especially when we get calls that are difficult to deal with,” he said, adding that K-9 deputies offer unconditional love and support to their human handlers.
“We attend a lot of events in Tamarac, and everyone knows Bluey and loves her. Kids pet her and recognize her. As a police officer, I cherish these opportunities to interact with the community,” Sun said.
He added that seeing the reaction Bluey gets from children and families and witnessing her positive impact on the community are the memories that will stay with him when it is time for her to go.
Bluey also helps her fellow first responders from BSO and other agencies when they experience traumatic events and may have a hard time opening up to another human. “Just having her in the room and spending time with her can help them,” Deputy Sun said.
A happy dog with a loving personality, Bluey grew up with Deputy Sun’s two children and was “never wanting for love or playing.”
“When she finds a person she likes, she would sit on their foot or lean against them,” he said. Bluey will live out her days at Deputy Sun’s home and, hopefully, exceed the doctors’ prognosis.
Deputy Bluey and BSO’s new bloodhound, Ziva.
Tamarac BSO is planning a proper retirement party for Bluey, which will also serve as an introduction to the agency’s newest bloodhound, 4-month-old Ziva.
Deputy Sun’s new K-9 partner will have to undergo vigorous training before getting certified by the National Police Bloodhound Association. “We will try to get her in the rotation as soon as possible after appropriate training,” he explained.
Ziva is a great-grandniece of Macie, the last bloodhound BSO K-9 unit retired.
Commissioner Elvin Villalobos said Bluey made such an impact on everyone she interacted with that she will be dearly missed.
“I enjoyed several interactions with Deputies Bluey and Sun at city events. Her love and service to the Broward Sheriff’s Office and our community will not be forgotten.”
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