The Jimmy Ryce Center has announced the passing of Macie, an 11-year-old purebred bloodhound who served the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) with distinction. The center, which aims to aid law enforcement in locating abducted and lost children, shared that Macie "passed away peacefully" on Friday, June 28. The beloved K-9 was Broward County Sheriff's Office's first bloodhound and the agency’s first certified therapy dog, named in memory of Martha Ryce, whose brother Jimmy's tragic death spurred the creation of the center.
Macie's career spanned nearly a decade, beginning with the BSO in April 2013, where she became an integral part of the force. According to WSVN and CBS News, she responded to 1,118 calls for service, and participated in 523 deployments, with over 100 confirmed tracks, assists, and finds in her efforts to locate missing persons. She left an indelible mark on the community, attending over 300 community events and conducting 346 demonstrations, making her an emblem of the force's outreach efforts.
Upon her retirement in January 2023, Macie had already been a fixture at BSO. "Macie won the hearts of everyone she met," the Jimmy Ryce Center expressed. Her handler, K-9 Deputy Kel Li Covet, reminisced about their first encounter as "love at first sight," a sentiment that seems to have been echoed by all who came into contact with the dedicated K-9 over the years.
In a statement obtained by CBS News, the Jimmy Ryce Center expressed solace despite the loss: "Our hearts ache, but we take comfort in knowing that Macie is running in heaven with her brothers (Bandit and Kash) and sister (Nellie) surrounded by Jimmy, Martha, Claudine, and Don Ryce." This sentiment captures the affection and respect the organization, and by extension the community, held for K-9 Macie, whose legacy extends beyond her tangible achievements to include the countless hearts she no doubt touched during her commendable service.
