Cico used to sniff out drugs and run down lawbreakers.

Now he stops and smells the roses — and chases squirrels.

But after years of putting his nose to the grindstone, life for police dog K9 Cico, while calmer, has lost some of its purpose.

Before retiring two years ago at the age of 8, Cico, a purebred German Shepherd, worked as a cross-trained narcotic detection/patrol dog for Lancaster city police under the direction of his handler, Det. Mike Gerace.

"It was very difficult for (Cico) to stop working," said Gerace, who is assigned to the criminal investigations division violent crime unit. "He was and is a very active dog. For months, he would be sitting by the door ready to leave with me when I would go to work."

Working dogs like Cico often have to retire due to age, illness or injury. But life after retirement, which may involve a dramatically different routine and environment, isn't always an easy transition. For instance, greyhounds, who have spent most of their lives running on a track, may have never been inside a house.

War dog organizations say the number of people asking about adopting retired military canines has risen dramatically since the mission involving Cairo, the Navy SEALs dog who participated in the raid on Osama bin Laden. In past generations, most military dogs were euthanized once their tours of duty were over.

Megan Gallagher, Humane League of Lancaster County's vice president of development and outreach, said she does not know of any retired working dogs who have been surrendered to the shelter. She said she believes many of these dogs move on to being pets for the handler or a friend or family member.

Gerace said it probably took Cico more than a year to wind down and realize that he wasn't going back to work, but Gerace said he tries to keep Cico active even as he ages.

Generally, dogs retired by the city police remain with their handlers, said Lt. Todd Umstead, administration/public affairs with Lancaster city police.

"There is an extremely strong bond with these dogs and handlers, so the handlers have always wanted to keep them," he said. " … It is kind of expected they will have each other for 'life.' " While retired police horses don't always remain with handlers, they generally find homes at private farms, he said.

Patti Means, who runs the Red Rose K-9 Search and Rescue Team with husband, Al, said they retire their bloodhounds at the age of 10, when they begin to slow down. The dogs remain at the Meanses' farm and continue to accompany them to community demonstrations and run trails on a much less intense scale.

"I think trailing is a natural-driven instinct that stays with them throughout their life and retirement years," she said. "It's what they've lived for. It's what they do."

Older therapy dogs often remain with their owners for life, but the working role may be scaled down.

"It is their life … it is what they love," said Jill Harris, UDS Service Dogs program manager. "(Who) are we to take that away from them if they are still able and want to do it?"

But every case is different, she said. Some owners may choose to have the aging dog adopted by a friend or family member or even return it to the training organization, which generally finds a home for the animal.

"Often the volunteer who raised the dog (or another volunteer) will take the dog for the remainder of its life," said Betsy Smith, a local puppy raiser for Susquehanna Service Dogs, which offers a link on its website to adopt a released or retired dog.

Dogs no longer able to perform their original duties may take on different roles in demonstrations and public appearances.

Occasionally, another service dog is placed with a retiring service dog, Harris said, but this can be potentially difficult for the retiree.

Carol Sneath said Pepe was a companion dog for her daughter, Melissa, for 12 years. But as he began to age and his health began to fail, Sneath said, there was an opportunity to bring in another dog, and they introduced him very slowly. The new dog actually seemed to invigorate Pepe, she said.

"For a long time, I was taking both dogs out, and Pepe almost seemed like he was showing Gabby the ropes," she said. "(Pepe) seemed to understand that it was soon time to retire and just enjoy life as a dog."

After Pepe passed away, Gabby comfortably stepped in, Sneath said, and helped the family heal from the loss of Pepe.

While Cico has moved on to a slower pace, it seems he has never lost sight of the job he left behind.

On a recent trip to the vet, Gerace said, Cico lay quietly in the car for most of the trip.

But once they entered the city, turning onto Prince Street from Liberty Street, Cico jumped up and was back to "patrolling" as they drove, Gerace said.

"I don't know how he knew we were in the city, but I've never doubted his intuition."

CICO'S STATISTICS

Cico had a busy career before retiring.

Here are his accomplishments, according to Gerace.

• 17 apprehensions (bites)

• Countless people who surrendered due to K-9 being present

• 5 successful tracks leading to arrests, and numerous other tracks that resulted in officers determining a suspect had left the area in a vehicle

• 5 handguns recovered

• 28 pounds of marijuana recovered

• 1.5 pounds of powder cocaine recovered

• 2.75 pounds of of crack cocaine recovered

• 2,850 bags of heroin recovered

• 7 fluid ounces of PCP recovered

• 150 tabs of Ecstasy recovered

• 100 tabs of Oxycontin recovered

• 35 grams of methamphetamine recovered

• more than $65,000 in U.S. currency recovered

sjurgelski@lnpnews.com