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K-9 featured in Netflix’s ‘Rescued by Ruby’ euthanized

A Rhode Island K-9 whose inspiring story became the subject of a recent Netflix movie was euthanized Friday, state police said.

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Ruby, part Australian shepherd and border collie, died after a “sudden, acute, and untreatable illness,” WPRI-TV reported. She was 11 years old.

The dog served with the Rhode Island State Police for 11 years and was handled by Cpl. Daniel O’Neil, Col. Darnell Weaver, superintendent of the state police, told The Associated Press. She was adopted from the Rhode Island SPCA when she was four months old and became one of the first shelter dogs trained to serve with the department.

“K-9 Ruby dedicated her life to serve the citizens of Rhode Island and make a positive impact on every person she ever interacted with,” Weaver said in a statement. “She became a symbol of hope for all shelter dogs, showing the world what a shelter dog can do when just given love and the chance to shine.”

Her story, alongside O’Neil, was told in the Netflix movie, “Rescued by Ruby,” according to IMDb.com. The film featured Grant Gustin as O’Neil and also starred Scott Wolf and Kaylah Zander, the entertainment website reported.

In 2017 Ruby found a lost and distressed teenager, who was the son of a shelter volunteer who had cared for her as a puppy, WJAR-TV reported.

The boy had been missing for 36 hours, and Ruby and O’Neil searched hiking trails for several hours before the canine caught the boy’s scent, according to the American Humane website. The boy, who was found in “grave medical condition,” was taken to an area hospital and made a full recovery, the website state.

For her efforts, Ruby was named American Humane Hero Dog Search and Rescue Dog of the Year in 2018, according to WJAR.

Ruby also paired with O’Neil During her career, she and O’Neil also volunteered with the Community, Diversity and Equity Unit, appearing in schools and at many events, the state police news release stated.