All of Ember’s former co-workers agree that she could be a pain to work with, especially while riding in a car. But they also acknowledged that they would miss the unbridled joy and excitement she brought to the job each day.
Ember, a military working dog with Space Base Delta 1, retired on Tuesday after more than eight years of service. About 50 Peterson service members and civilians celebrated her years of service during a brief retirement ceremony on Tuesday.
A black Labrador retriever, Ember began her service with the Marine Corps before transitioning to Peterson in 2019, officials said. She served as a “specialized service dog” — a single-purpose, explosive detector K-9 capable of working off-leash at “extended distances away from the handler,” according to the kennel master, Tech Sgt. Cody Lake.
During her tenure with SBD1, Ember participated in several Secret Service tasks, providing explosive detection support during presidential and vice-presidential visits, officials said. She also participated in numerous security details with multiple handlers.
Many military working dogs undergo a certain amount of attack training. But explosive detection dogs are often required to work in crowds, so they are selected as much for their demeanor as for their detection skills. With her boundless energy and cheerful personality, Ember never posed a threat — although she might lick someone into submission, Lake said.
“Ember has been a source of strength and a reminder to us all of the bonds that are shared between humans and dogs,” Lake said . “Through all the stressful days, Ember has always been able to bring joy, making those rough days just a little bit better.”
Senior Airman Andrew Fogel was Ember’s fifth and final handler, and she was his first four-legged partner.
“She’s taught me more than I’ve taught her,” Fogel said Tuesday, as Ember attempted to climb into his lap. “Including patience.”
During the ceremony, Fogel read statements from some of Ember’s former handlers, all of whom agreed that she was a noisy, fidgety nuisance during car rides, bounding around, licking the windows, and begging to be let out of the vehicle.
“She’s the happiest dog I’ve ever met, and the most annoying,” stated Tech Sgt. Hannah King.
Staff Sgt. Jacob Figgens said, “Ember, I miss you, but I won’t miss the car rides.”
Ember’s ex-partners also said that she was dependable, loyal and focused while working.
“She was always so excited to work every day, and did it with so much enthusiasm,” King said. “Ember made every day a good day.”
“Despite her quirkiness, she was always a dependable dog and loved by the entire installation,” Figueroa said. “She was the unofficial mascot of our unit.”
Ember’s former partners all advised her to enjoy her retirement, but they agreed that relaxation was probably not in the cards for the Labrador retriever — at least, not any time soon.
“As you embark on this new chapter of your life, know that you have earned every moment of your rest and relaxation,” Lake said. “But for all of us who know you, we know that you don’t have an ‘off’ switch.”
A police K-9 typically spends years training and working closely with a single handler, and at the end of their active service, the handler usually adopts the dog. Because of the transitory nature of the military, an MWD often has several handlers. When a military dog retires, former handlers are contacted to see if they would like to give the working dog a permanent home.
When veterinary technician Cheyene Decker learned of Ember’s impending retirement, she asked to be considered for adoption.
“I started working for the Fort Carson Veterinary Center about 2½ years ago, and that’s where I met Ember,” said Decker, who has two other dogs at home. “I fell in love with her pretty quickly, and I told (Ember’s unit) that I wanted her whenever she retired. We’re really excited to bring her home with us.”
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