Happy Tails- Hero

My dog OC for
3-28-15: Updated the art, look and job/history with the pimped out backpack and fancy briefcase.

Name: Hero

Nicknames: Copper, Super/Super-cop

Age: 2 1/2, 23

Gender: Female

Height: 5'10

Breed: German Shepherd

Job: Police Dog

Partner: None~

Sexual orientation: Heteroromantic

Personality:
- Forgetful/Easily Distracted: The German Shepherd has one goal- two if you count eating good food on a regular schedule. Sometimes three- whatwasthatsoundIthinkitwasasquirrel. *cough* She does what it takes to be taken seriously and learn, but her mind is easily thrown off track by unfamiliar scents and sounds, toys, food or strange people, and sometimes she'd rather play or relax than practice or be read to.

- Friendly: Hero is a bit awkward around new people, especially now that she can see them, but she loves making friends. She tends to go overboard in gifting and games and other 'friend' activities because she's inexperienced, but she's come out of her shell since she arrived at the Pet Center.

- Fearless: This can be an asset and trouble. Hero is afraid of nothing and no one. She has learned to give a warning when she's going to bound off toward something suspicious, but if she senses something's up she's right there snarling at it. (Usually 'it' is a squirrel or some spoiled food though...)

- Stubborn: Anything Hero can do for herself, she will; the more difficult the better. "I've got it," and "Just watch me," are two things you'll hear from her a lot. She's determined to be useful and work hard.

- Clumsy: In an unfamiliar place she's known to knock things over and make a mess, even if it's just a wag of the tail at the wrong moment. Keep anything fragile above her reach, or in her human form just away from edges.

- Doggishly Affectionate: She's quick to offer a nudge or a pat when someone is upset, but in human-form she's rather unsure how to proceed, usually ending up in someone's lap or draped in the way rather than actually showing comfort and affection. Hero is usually uncomfortable with hugs or extended contact, a bit suspicious by nature, but if she's happy she'll show it.

History:
One of 5 puppies in a litter bred for service by a family of 6, Hero was affectionately named by the family's young son, along with her brother, Rowdy. All five dogs were raised with the intention to become police or search and rescue canines. Hero was born with small cataracts in her eyes, and for a while the size fluctuated, but at a year old she went blind and was declared unfit for selection in police service.

For almost another year the breeding family kept her, but after another large litter was born and all of her siblings had been sold to handlers the Shepherd was dropped off at a shelter. The blind dog learned enough about police to know they had animals to sniff out bombs, and since her nose worked perfectly and she was still determined to work for law enforcement, she decided to convince whoever adopted her from the shelter to become her handler and eyes.

Months after her move to the Pet Center, she was surprised by a visit from her family, and even moreso by the gift they had scrimped to purchase her; the handlers who'd raised her had saved for surgery to remove her cataracts. For a few days Hero was shocked and confused, and didn't decide on whether to go through with the procedure. She'd spent a year becoming accustomed to life without sight, and tuning her remaining senses to make up for the lack. However, she'd had no luck in her police training while sightless, and while she wouldn't quite be the same dog anymore, it was exciting to think that she'd be able to see her friends. After her time of indecision she bent to the logic that anyone would jump at the opportunity to regain their sight and agreed to the surgery. It went well and she was ready to return to the Center when like a sign she received a letter from the Pawsville Police Department that her previous application for employment in the K-9 unit had gone through. She was officially a police dog, and it was with a skip in her step that the fearless comic geek headed home.

Extra information:
- She's a bit less quick with blind jokes nowadays, since those who haven't known her already might take offense not realizing the self-jesting. 

- She loves audiobooks and being read to, especially if it's a mystery or police-related. Story time is one instance in which she'll just relax and perk up her ears.

- Pork Fried Rice is the way to her heart.

- She's proud of her height and likes to mess with people who are shorter. She does, however, find that it makes it tough to find a comfy spot to nap, as there aren't any boxes big enough since she grew out of them as a puppy.

- The scar on her mouth is from events during the hurricane that hit Pawsville. She has another on her shoulder from being hit by a car, but doesn't usually show it now that she wears a uniform a lot.