It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to train a K9 officer. In a lot of communities nationwide, these very departments are in the dog house. But one Churchill County Sheriff’s Deputy has taken up the challenge of creating one.

Deputy Chris Thorn has been trying to set up a K9 program for some time now. But the story with the bigger bite is his new partner, eight-year-old Tinka. The former border patrol agent was just days away from being put down, before being saved.

"She's a fun loving dog,” Dep. Thorn said. “She loves kids, she loves people in general, and she’s a big moral booster in our department."

Eight-year-old Tinka worked as a border patrol agent for six years. After her retirement, unseen circumstances put her in the dog house. She was just days away from euthanasia, when a rescue group discovered her potential in the pound and found her a new job with the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office.

This working dog has worked hard with the help of her trainers, proving an old dog can learn new tricks.

"We changed up things to make it a little more motivational for her because she hasn't worked in a long time," Brian Howard, her trainer, said.

"Tinka will be used in the capacity as a locating tool,” Dep. Thorn explained, “Using her nose to sniff out narcotics, training, looking for missing persons."

And she’s got the nose for it. In the three months that the two have been on the streets, they’ve participated in eight busts. But once they’re at home and the badges come off, Tinka switches roles again. This time—from partner to pet.

"She knows when her collar comes on or her badge that its time to go to work," Dep. Thorn said.

Dep. Thorn hopes to keep her on the force for another two years or so, then plans on keeping her as a pet.