Miller said while he hadn’t thought about it before, the idea did interest him. “I was very, very excited over the fact that I’d been chosen,” he said.

After a couple of weeks of working with Rogue, Miller said he’s pleased at how things turned out.

He said the main focus of the training is learning to read Rogue’s body language and how she communicates as well as bonding with the dog.

Miller said she’s proven to be adept at finding narcotics and she’s willing to work, as long as there’s a tennis ball available.

He said her story is one that touched his heart, and he believes her work as a narcotics detection dog is her way of giving others the second chance that she’s been given. By taking drugs off the street, he said, Rogue will keep them from destroying other lives.

When he and Rogue finish their training, both will return to Fayetteville, but Rogue will be available as needed anywhere in the state.

Miller said he’s looking forward to Rogue finding lots of narcotics and being the star of the ALE’s pilot program.

“She’s a beautiful girl and it’s a great blessing to work with her,” he said. Miller praised the efforts of Erin and Jason Purgason in giving these shelter dogs a chance. “They do a fantastic job,” he said.