RI state police search-and-rescue K-9 Ruby euthanized due to untreatable illness

Immortalized in a Netflix movie, a documentary and numerous news features across the country, state police K-9 Ruby was euthanized Friday to end her suffering from a sudden and untreatable illness.

“Today the Rhode Island State Police family is mourning the death of K-9 Ruby,” said Col. Darnell S. Weaver, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and director of the Department of Public Safety, according to a news release. “Her partnership with Corporal [Dan] O’Neil was a special one and their search and rescue work in our K-9 Unit was a great service to the Rhode Islanders who have needed their help. Her award-winning rescue inspired us and we are grateful for her years of service.”

Earlier this year: Rhode Island State Police search dog Ruby has movie made about her life

How much is true?: Netflix's new film features RI and a hero K-9 rescued from a shelter.

Ruby served with the state police for 11 years, handled by O'Neil. A mix of border collie and Australian shepherd, Ruby was adopted and returned five times to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals before being deemed unadoptable. She came within hours of being euthanized when the state police selected her for training. She was part of many search and rescue missions and frequently appeared in schools and at community events.

In late 2017 Ruby found an injured teenager in time for rescuers to save his life. O'Neil and the state police didn't know until later that the teen's mother had been key to Ruby entering K-9 training, and the family didn't know that the dog who found their loved one was Ruby.

From the archives: The rescued becomes the rescuer

The coincidence made such a compelling story that Ruby was nominated for and scored highest in national online voting to become American Humane Hero Dog Search and Rescue Dog of the Year in 2018. She and O'Neil were flown to Hollywood for a week of appearing on morning shows and celebrity news events with the other contestants from other categories. All were competing to win as top overall hero dog, and the week ended with the taping of a star-studded dinner and awards show, followed by another press tour in New York City.

Ruby's story of narrowly escaping the fate of many shelter dogs and getting a chance to put her endless energy into becoming a useful state police K-9 was made into the 2022 Netflix movie, “Rescued by Ruby.” Just before the streaming service premiered the movie in mid-March, a sneak peek was screened for members of the state police and their families at the East Greenwich Odeum. Everyone who had been played by an actor was invited to the stage to be interviewed by the movie's husband-and-wife writer-producer team.

They included Mark Zarrella, who had spent his RISP career building a K-9 department by training dog-handler teams and convincing leaders that K-9s in various police specialties save hundreds of hours of police work. He retired and now operates American Patriot K-9 Training, at www.ampkt.com.

Another was Patricia Inman, a trainer and RISPCA volunteer who worked with Ruby each time she was returned to the shelter for unacceptable behavior. After five tries, Ruby was declared unadoptable and scheduled for euthanasia. Inman had a theory that Ruby didn't need a family but a job, and she asked Joe Warzycha, the agency's investigator, to ask Zarrella to consider her for police training,

Inman said in a Facebook post Sunday that she was heartbroken and, in a social media exchange said: "Ruby was super smart and loved working with her human partner. Dan’s dedication made all of the difference in the world for Ruby, and she in turn changed the world for many of us."

Ruby lived as part of the O’Neil family. The state police news release said O'Neil would not be available for interviews and asked that the family's privacy be respected.

Staff Writer Donita Naylor contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 'Rescued by Ruby' K9 rescue dog euthanized due to untreatable illness.