Former Ligonier Valley police dog Zeus is now a fire dog for Ligonier Township Fire Department No. 1.

Zeus debuted as a fire dog Tuesday during a National Night Out community outreach event organized by the Ligonier Valley Police Department in Ligonier Borough.

“He’s the first fire dog we’ve ever had,” said Robert Beaufort, chief of the Waterford-based fire department. “It’s a good thing for the community.”

The 8-year-old German shepherd’s crime-fighting days came to an end after Latrobe Council voted in July to disband its police dog program.

He’s still paired with the same handler — Robert Derk, who is a sergeant on the Latrobe force and also a lieutenant and president with the Ligonier Township firefighters.

Now, Zeus is being used for public relations and recruitment efforts for the fire department.

“I think he’s at his happiest when he’s doing public relations,” Derk said of his K-9 partner. “He’s very good with kids and adults. He lets anybody pet him.

“He listens really well and he loves attention.”

Derk said he plans to train Zeus to take part in the Waterford department’s fire safety presentations for young Ligonier students.

“We go into R.K. Mellon (Elementary) every year and do fire safety for the students,” he said. “We’ll be taking Zeus in there. The kids listen a little better if you have a K-9 there.”

Zeus also will be on hand to bring extra attention to the fire department’s membership recruitment efforts, pursued in conjunction with its fundraising events.

“At all our fundraisers, we have a tent set up with applications,” Beaufort said. He noted the local firefighters, like many volunteer organizations, are struggling to keep their ranks filled.

“Like everybody else, we’re always looking for members,” he said. “Volunteerism is going down.”

He said about 15 of the department’s 35 members are active in responding to emergency calls. Since many of the members are 40 or older, the department is particularly looking to attracts some younger recruits, he said.

Though none are currently enrolled, the department has a junior firefighter program for volunteers beginning at age 14. Beaufort said one junior firefighter recently turned 18 and joined the ranks of full-fledged members.

Zeus will be on hand at the Waterford fire hall for a fundraiser set for 4 p.m. on Sept. 5. The event will feature chicken barbecue, games and music by Clockwork Knotwork, a steampunk-inspired band from Texas whose repertoire includes Irish music.

Zeus remains under the care of Derk, who said he continues to train the dog for obedience and endurance.

City manager Terry Carcella said the city intends to contribute toward Zeus’ maintenance in retirement, in accordance with its police union contract. He said negotiations are underway regarding the amount and method of maintenance payments, with a vote not expected at council’s Sept. 9 meeting.

About $40,000 is in a city account that was set aside for care of Zeus, who was Latrobe’s sole K-9 officer.

Mayor Eric Bartels has indicated the termination of Latrobe’s K-9 program resulted in part from changes in policing priorities and circumstances.

During his first nine months on the job with the police department, beginning in November 2017, Zeus was deployed more than 50 times and assisted with five arrests. Those numbers were down between April 2023 and June 4 of this year — with Zeus taking part in three police investigations and four public relations events.

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