Rocky is one handsome dude and Bobbie is no shrinking violet herself.

Beauty aside, these canine heroes can sniff out narcotics or track cold scents at the drop of a command, with all-inclusive loyalty and bravery that saves human life.

Bobbie, a border collie-springer spaniel mix, is an expert at sniffing out narcotics.

Rocky, the bloodhound, can track a cold scent after smells are long gone.

These are trained specialty dogs that corral bad guys and help the helpless.

When it became known that an organization offered officially trained law enforcement dogs free to police agencies, said Normandy Park Police Chief Rick Kieffer, "Considering community needs and this offer, we moved on it."

He credits Canine Police Officer Giovanni Morella for extensive research locating those agencies. Officer Morella is now handler, duty partner and 24/7 roommate to a purebred bloodhound "tracking machine."

Rocky is the only known working bloodhound in western Washington.

A passive dog not given to biting, he tracks scents of missing children, run-aways, wandering Alzheimer patients, suicidal persons, crime suspects and hard-crime offenders.

Rocky, whose training makes him a valuable dog was donated at no cost to the city. Local folks donated other money and services for Rocky, including the "Soggy Doggy" owners.

Officer Morella discovered Bloodhound Law Enforcement training was established in cooperation with three police agencies: the New York State Troopers, South Carolina's Chesterfield County Sheriff's office and 832 Deputy Dogs, an organization formed by Duke and Angie Snodgrass, parents of Florida police Officer Cody Snodgrass who was killed in the line of duty.

Rocky is their 77th placed bloodhound-it's "cops helping cops-in-law."

Born and raised locally, Officer Morella is proud and devoted to this 16-month-old, 100 pound, gentle and friendly bloodhound that remains alert in mixed company as if on-duty.

Skyler, Normandy Park's former law enforcement dog, retired after 10 years of service with Sergeant Gaddis.

Kieffer noted, "Rocky is fast approaching FBI standard for tracking dogs. We truly appreciate donor's generous support to the continuing Normandy Park Canine Program and are thankful for both contributions of Officer Morella's search and "832 Deputy Dogs" training and gift of Rocky."

Des Moines police are extremely proud, too, of their narcotics-sniffing dog, Bobbie the border collie-cocker spaniel mix and the many testaments to her success in the hunt for that suicidal commodity, "dope."

Drugs ruin lives, enslave young people, kill or lead them to sacrifice that great person they could become - all for a dealer's poison. And who do you suppose is laughing on the way to a money-laundering outlet?

Bobbie's mission is to eliminate that option.

Master Police Officer Randy Gallagher, Bobbie's handler, described a case of mutual aid to Kent police when a suspected narcotic situation arose on a major highway.

State law requires reputable confirmation of suspicious reasons to issue a search warrant. Bobbie quickly sniffed out drugs in that car's trunk and substantiated Kent police opinions.

Officer Gallagher started in the Des Moines Police Department in 1995. He completed Washington's required 200-hour K-9 training for narcotics detection and was assigned to Bobbie, a three-year Washington State Patrol veteran drug-sniffing dog.

They worked with the DEA Task Force at Sea Tac International Airport, returning to Des Moines in 2005.

Des Moines Police Chief Roger Baker said, "Bobbie is rated one of the best in the state. She finds drugs really well, in cars, on people, hidden in buildings or bushes-any place.

"Specialty trained dogs also sniff-out bombs, guns, explosives, and seek, search and hold crime suspects. They are an indispensable tool that helps us do our job better and an integral part of the law enforcement team. The success of sharing our resources between police agencies in mutual aid greatly provides the absolute best services in an economical way."

It seems a mutual-magnetic attraction and need exists between dogs, kids, and most people. And I suspect that doesn't really end-until we end.

Thoughts for the day: "It's useless to try to hold some people to anything if they're madly in love, drunk, or running for office."

And, "If you can't get anyone to listen - tell them it's confidential." Anonymous.