Belgian Malinois K9 Ryan retires after injury, finds Florida home

K9 Ryan’s second career began the hard way: a training injury last summer led to TPLO surgery, meniscus removal, and hardware placed in his knee, ending seven years of service with the Greece Police Department. The 8-year-old Belgian Malinois had been out of service since July 2025 before officially heading into retirement this spring.

Ryan was never just a patrol dog. Certified in patrol tracking and explosive detection, he spent his working life searching for missing people, helping locate wanted suspects, and detecting explosives and firearms. Captain Josh Spearman said Ryan’s nose and drive made him the kind of dog who could pick up scents humans cannot, the sort of high-output working K9 whose instincts are an asset on duty and a major challenge in retirement.

That challenge shaped the search for his next home. The department did not treat placement like a routine adoption. Trainers looked at Ryan’s adaptability and behavior, and multiple organizations and people were contacted nationwide before the search led to Mike Pintacura and his family in Florida. Pintacura is a retired Army Special Forces veteran and former Master Sergeant, and his household already had experience with working dogs and retired K9s. For a dog bred to stay engaged, that kind of home mattered as much as the address.

Ryan moved to Florida in March 2026 and, by the time he had been there just over a week, he was settling in with new canine companions. Pintacura said Ryan had shown personality and character quickly, had zero issues integrating with the dogs already in the house, and had not been on a leash since the first day home. The biggest adjustment, as anyone who has lived with a hard-charging Malinois knows, is not activity but permission to stand down. Ryan is learning that it is okay to not be switched on all the time.

The match also came with a personal connection. The widow of Ryan’s namesake, former Irondequoit Police Capt. Richard Ryan, lives in Florida and planned to visit the dog soon. Richard Ryan died on January 12, 2019, at age 50 after a battle with brain cancer.

The Greece Police Department thanked Ryan publicly and said he remained a valued member of the department, a fitting sendoff for a dog whose career was built on precision, grit, and controlled intensity. A 2021 department post noted support from Rochester Area Crime Stoppers for the K9 program, a reminder that dogs like Ryan are backed by a community long before they ever reach retirement.