Former Pinellas County sheriff's dog dies after distinguished drug-sniffing career

CLEARWATER — Lion, the yellow Labrador retriever that sniffed out nearly 3 tons of drugs and $300,000 in cash during a decadelong career with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office narcotics division, has died.

His owner and former partner made the difficult decision to put him down Sept. 28. He was 13.

"He would never yelp in pain," said Detective Pat Shea, who took Lion into his Clearwater home in December 2000. "Two o'clock Monday morning, he woke us up just screaming. His quality of life wasn't there anymore."

The Times profiled Lion in June 2008 as his colleagues feted him at a retirement gathering in Largo.

They told stories of Lion's passion for his work. Even while on bathroom breaks, he was adept at busting drug dealers. One time, Lion was next to a pickup truck. When Shea searched the truck, it reeked of marijuana, he said.

"Lion was using the bathroom and he was still working," Shea said in 2008.

After retirement, Lion couldn't stay away from the office. If a thunderstorm hit, he would accompany Shea to work. He was afraid of thunderstorms, Shea said.

"Lion would just roam the building and visit with everybody," he said. "There were so many people that wanted to give him treats. I had to tell people, 'Listen! Lion will be 400 pounds if I don't curb this.' "

An hour after he died, Pet Angel in Pinellas Park came to the veterinary clinic, placed Lion in a casket and draped it with an American flag.

"To honor his law enforcement service," Shea said.

Rodney Thrash can be reached at rthrash@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4167.