Meet Roger: The 'Too Friendly' Dog Who Found His True Calling

Sometimes our biggest weakness can become our greatest strength. This was certainly true for Roger, a dog from Kaohsiung, Taiwan who failed at one career only to excel at another.

The Police Academy Dropout

At just six months old, Roger began training to become a drug-sniffing dog for the local Police Department. Despite his enthusiasm for working, Roger had a few habits that made him unsuitable for police work. He loved to play - perhaps too much. And whenever someone gave him attention, he would stop whatever task he was doing.

These friendly traits led to Roger being officially removed from the police program. But his story was far from over.

A Perfect Career Change

The local Fire Department saw potential in Roger. They noticed he enjoyed completing tasks, had endless energy, and most importantly, loved people. They thought these traits might make him perfect for their search and rescue dog training program.

They were right.

The same personality that disqualified Roger from police work made him an ideal search and rescue dog. He breezed through training and completed his first fire rescue mission in 2018.

A Local Celebrity

Roger quickly became known not just for his rescue skills but also for his playful personality. During a press appearance, he won over hearts when he tried to eat a reporter's microphone.

But his biggest moment came earlier this year. When a massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's East Coast, Roger helped locate people trapped under rubble. His work saved lives.

After this heroic effort, the mayor rewarded Roger with an ice cream toy. True to his playful nature, Roger promptly destroyed it on television.

A Well-Deserved Retirement

Now almost 9 years old, Roger will retire later this year. A local family will adopt him, giving him the chance to spend his remaining years relaxing and destroying as many toys as he wants.

Roger's journey shows that sometimes we need to find the right fit for our natural talents. What might seem like a flaw in one setting can be exactly what's needed in another. Roger may have been too friendly for police work, but that same friendliness made him an exceptional rescue dog - and a beloved hero.