Retired RI state trooper hopes to change dog from rescue to rescuer

WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — A rescued Rhode Island dog may soon return the favor and help a human, thanks to his new owner.

Former State Police K9 Director Matt Zarella recently adopted a hocolate Labrador Retriever named Toby.

"It's not often you find a Chocolate Labrador Retriever on a rescue," said Zarella.

Rhode Island State Police's K-9 Unit trains daily in the event of an emergency, and 3-year-old Toby wants to join.

Toby was a part of an animal hoarding case in Warwick, the same as the two wolf-hybrids, later sent to an Ohio rescue. The Warwick Animal Shelter took in Toby, and after noticing some challenges, they called former State Police K9 Director Matt Zarella.

"He nipped a lot. He was very thick-headed, didn't listen, the typical things from dogs that don't have any structure."

Zarella started the K-9 division decades ago, so he is used to working with canines like Toby.

Actor Scott Wolf portrayed him in the movie "Rescued by Ruby.” The film was based on another rescue dog, Ruby, who became famous for saving a missing teenager.

It's something that a lot of people don't do because they have to invest countless time, energy and dollars, investing in their success, and quite often, you cannot guarantee a rescue dog will make it."

Zarella took a chance on Toby, and now this rescue is training to be a rescuer.

"He seems to love the live person wilderness type work where he might be looking for a missing person in surroundings like this," said Zarella. "But human remains work, which is a little more intricate and requires a little more focus, it's something that I hope he achieves as well."

Canines on the squad typically bark when the find the person, but Toby is still learning. The goal is to have him ready by next year to help police and fire statewide.

Zarella reminds everyone they are a part of the Rhode Island Canine and Rescue Volunteer team that serves Rhode Island and neighboring states.

The service is available to police and fire upon request, for different services, including missing persons cases.They have a command post set up with computers and mapping technology to document everything done during a search.