Rosemont police dog retires from department

A four-legged member of the Rosemont Public Safety Department has hung up his leash and collar after six years on the force.

Rig, a 7-year-old German shepherd, was honored by the department upon his retirement this month for his work tracking suspects and finding drugs in Rosemont and surrounding communities. He comes from a long line of canine crime fighters in the Rosemont department, one of the first agencies to establish a police dog program in the Northwest suburbs in the 1970s.

Rig's retirement comes after his diagnosis earlier this summer with degenerative myelopathy, a disease of the spinal cord marked by the dragging of rear legs.

His partner, Sgt. Tony LoBianco, and department commanders made the mutual decision to retire Rig from the force. Rig will continue to live with LoBianco at his Rosemont home.

LoBianco says keeping Rig active, including walking water therapy at a veterinarian in Buffalo Grove, could help extend his life perhaps another two to four years. Not working every day has been an adjustment for Rig, LoBianco said.

"When my alarm goes off, he's at my bedside," LoBianco said. "When I leave, he wants to go out the door with me. That's all he's done is work."

Rosemont has one other police dog, 3-year-old Knox, and plans to get at least one more, officials said.