Over the years Matka has kept workers and visitors safe by checking out Capitol buildings for threats, responding to calls about suspicious or unattended bags, and doing bomb sweeps. The Hungarian Vizsla, who will turn 10 in July, retired on Tuesday with the end of the Minnesota Legislature's spring session. She'll continue to live with her handler of two years, Trooper Todd Winters, and his family.
“She's going to spend the rest of her years just being a dog," Winters said.
The Winters family is happy to have her around. Though Matka can certainly be a bundle of energy, when at home, she likes to take it easy. Rather than sniffing out explosives, she sniffs out snacks before curling up to catch some z's.
While for some it feels like just yesterday that Matka joined the State Patrol, the grey on her snout is evidence that she's ready to retire. She began her training with the State Patrol in 2015, starting with a blank slate. Matka spent six weeks learning to identify the smell of explosives and working with the State Patrol's K-9 trainers, then six more weeks training with her handler before she started her official duties in 2016.
“While she's definitely earned her time to relax, she's also been a popular and friendly face for everyone in the Capitol. Everyone is going to miss her," State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic said.
Bogojevic said it was bittersweet to see Matka, the first K-9 assigned to the Minnesota Capitol complex, retire, adding, “She was brought on to increase safety here, and that's just what she's done."
The State Patrol is in the process of training Matka's replacement and her handler. The new explosive detection dog, a German short hair, will take over Capitol security duties in June.
In addition to the explosives detection K-9 at the Capitol, the State Patrol has 13 K-9 teams across the state that are specifically trained to sniff out illegal drugs enroute to Minnesota communities, whether those illicit substances are in a personal vehicle, a bus or a building. Each one helps to interrupt the flow of illegal drugs and other illegal activities that come with them, assisting the State Patrol as it makes our communities and roads safer.
Learn more about the State Patrol's K-9 unit on our
website.
