News Release

Howdy Cowboy — K9 Ranger joins park law enforcement staff

Ranger Cat and K9 Cowboy

NPS Photo

News Release Date: December 11, 2023

Contact: Public Affairs, 580-622-7234

Sulphur, Okla.– K9 Ranger Cowboy recently joined the law enforcement staff at Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The nearly 2-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer is trained to detect narcotics and assist in tracking people and locating items.

Cowboy was born in 2022 in Bulgaria before emigrating to the United States later that year. He trained at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, where he learned how to detect narcotics and cross trained to track people and search for articles with human scents. Ranger Kat Grubb joined him in Pennsylvania for partner training at the conclusion of his individual training. Once their training was complete, he joined her on her return trip to the park. Both Cowboy’s solo training and team training were paid for by the Friends of Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Cowboy was selected to join the staff at the park not just for his trained skills, but for his friendly personality. He is fond of meeting people, catching fall leaves, long walks on his leash, and playing with his favorite toy tennis ball.

For more information about Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit www.nps.gov/chic or call the Travertine Nature Center at [phone].

About the National Park Service More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 428 National Parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.