LARGO, Fla. — The Largo Police Department is celebrating 50 years of its K-9 unit this year. 

It is a unique partnership between the handler and the K-9 which started out with one dog and now has grown to four. 

K-9 Officer Tom Dziamba told Spectrum Bay News 9 who makes the other feel good in this partnership, especially during downtime.

“It’s a team effort, you know. There’s a time when he puts a smile on my face,” said Dziamba about his K-9, Drax. “I always get him out to play. For him, it’s all about having fun. 

“It’s all a game to him. It’s all about getting that toy, whether it’s at home for the downtime or at work. He just wants to play with the toy,” he said.

The newest puppy on the Largo K-9 unit is Marsh. 

Spectrum Bay News 9 went to visit the K-9s at their training compound and Marsh snuck in some feel goods from the photographer. 

He also got some play time in front of the cameras. 

K-9 Drax loves to jump and is anxious to get his toy. 

Many have heard the cliche before, but in this case, these guys really are a different breed. 

“Just because they’re a German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois, doesn’t mean it could just be a police dog,” explained K-9 Officer Patrick Newbill. “It’s difficult to explain. You can’t compare it to a typical pet. It’s more than a part of the family because you’re with this animal more often than you are your own family, basically 24 hours a day.” 

Spectrum Bay News 9 also met K-9 Sway-Z. 

With a face like his, who wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time with him?

Newbill said they do have to keep a balance. 

“They have the same personalities as most pets at home. We just have to react to some of their stuff differently,” said Newbill. “They’re goofballs just as much as they are at home. We just have to make sure that we don’t spoil them so that when they go to work, they want to work.” 

They are tough on the street. 

Good boys at their jobs and just as loving. 

“You can’t escape the attachment to them. It’s part of the job that draws you in and makes you never want to do anything else,” said Newbill. K-9 Sway-Z recently graduated from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detector School as well.