A Pennsylvania police dog is taking the place -- and walking in the paw prints -- of his recently retired father.
Ellwood City Borough Police K-9 Ranger is talking over for his father, Jozek, who retired his badge last week, according to The New Castle News.
The 11-year-old Czech Republic-born German Shepherd was commended for his work by borough Mayor Tony Court at a Council meeting for his nine years of service and hundreds of arrests.
He was partnered for his handler, Sgt. Michael McBride in 2007 and has had one of the longest running stints of police dogs in Lawrence County.
Police dogs can cost between $10,000 and $12,000 but the borough was able to save money by breeding Jozek in order to produce Ranger -- one of his offspring.
In 2011, McBride approached Court with the idea as a way to ensure the borough's police K-9 program could continue.
Ranger, now 3 years old was certified through the American Work Dog Association in May of last year. Since that time, he already has been involved in several details which resulted in successful narcotic prosecutions.
"The comfort of Jozek's presence will be missed by his fellow Ellwood City police family," McBride said during the ceremony. "I think over the last nine years that I have spent more time with Jozek than any other person in my family. I will deeply miss him at my side and the protection he provided."
Jozek will spend his retirement at McBride's family farm in Little Beaver Township.
