Phila.-area nonprofit helps transform stray into a police dog

It was graduation day for Rousey, a stray German shepherd rescued last summer by a Philadelphia-area nonprofit with the goal of making her a police dog.

After 10 weeks of training, Rousey officially became a K-9 at a ceremony Saturday in Roanoke, Va.

She will serve with the Rocky Mount Police Department, which is just south of Roanoke.

It was the end of one journey and the beginning of another for Rousey, who was given a second chance by Throw Away Dogs and its founder Carol Skaziak.

"She's definitely home," Skaziak said of Rousey, who is now partnered with Rocky Mount Police Officer Chris Shelton.

"I don't have a doubt in my mind that she will be phenomenal," said Skaziak, who attended the graduation in Virginia.

It wasn't easy getting to this point.

Rousey used to be known briefly as "Hope," the name given her by Char-Will German Shepherd Rescue in rural Schuylkill County.

Not much was known about who she was and where she had been before she was picked up in York County last summer. What was evident was that she had protruding ribs and a thinning black-and-tan coat.

Skaziak renamed her after the popular mixed-martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey, and with that began a weeks-long rehabilitation with the daring intent of turning an unknown stray into a working police dog.

In October, Rousey was delivered to the police department in Winchester, Va., to be trained as both a patrol and detection dog.

That didn't work out. The department decided Rousey wasn't suited to be a patrol dog.

But through word of mouth in police circles, Rocky Mount said it needed a new K-9 and took Rousey.

Kayos, a Belgian Malinois from Throw Away Dogs, was also part of the class of three dogs graduating Saturday and is now serving the Roanoke County Police Department. His handler is Officer William Tars.

Adding to the Virginia connection, Tars has agreed to establish a satellite operation for Throw Away Dogs in that state.

"There's definitely a need in this area," Tars said. "Money is so tight and the K-9s are usually the first to get cut in the budget."

Working dogs in law enforcement cost thousands of dollars if they are purchased from elite breeders - and that is before the cost of training and time invested are factored in.

Throw Away Dogs provides K-9 candidates for free.

Skaziak cofounded the nonprofit with SEPTA Transit Police Officer Jason Walters in 2014 with a goal of finding suitable dogs in rescues and shelters and donating them to small agencies in need.

Through the end of last year, their organization had placed three dogs, in Maryland, Indiana, and Maine.

In just the first four months of this year, Throw Away Dogs has placed twice as many, including Rousey and Kayos.

"It just took off," Skaziak said.

On Saturday, months after Throw Away Dogs took a chance on a gaunt stray, Rousey "looked absolutely perfect," Skaziak said. "Very healthy, very happy."

bmoran@phillynews.com

215-854-5983@RobertMoran215

To learn more about Throw Away Dogs, visit www.facebook.com/throwawaydogs.