Lucy the K-9 cop home safe

GARDNERVILLE -- Lucy, the Douglas County drug-sniffing dog, is back at work after taking off Wednesday during an outing.

While out with Deputy Phil Lesquereux in the Red Lakes area of Alpine County, Calif., Lucy, a black Labrador retriever, saw nature calling.

"They were out enjoying the day together, and apparently she decided to take off after an animal," said Sgt. Tom Mezzetta, public information officer for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. "It was a huge concern. She's a member of our department."

Lucy has been with the department for nearly two years, as one of two dogs assigned to the narcotics department.

She disappeared about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Area residents were notified of the disappearance. Lucy was reported found about 9 p.m. A man, who had heard she was missing, found her while he was visiting a neighbor's cabin.

"The Douglas County Sheriff's Department is very pleased that our missing canine partner has been found and safely returned home," Mezzetta said. "Our sincerest thank you to all who assisted in the search and to the news media for answering our call for help. A special thank you goes to the California law enforcement community for their remarkable response and assistance."