Winnie, Clanton’s 7-year-old police dog, is shown with her partner Ronald Giles. Winnie died Tuesday from cancer. She was laid to rest in a private service with other officers on Wednesday.

In her short life, Winnie the police dog worked to take drugs off Clanton streets, while helping to teach thousands of children about the important work K9 units do.

Winnie, Clanton Police Department’s 7-year-old yellow lab, died Tuesday at Auburn University’s Veterinary School Hospital. She was laid to rest Wednesday in a small private service attended by several local police officers.

A valuable member of the department, especially to her partner, Officer Ronald Giles, the narcotics detection dog will be missed.

“These dogs are not just tools. They become members of our family and especially members of the K-9 handler’s family,” said Police Chief Brian Stilwell. “She will be sorely missed.”

Winnie had been with the department since January 2006. She worked alongside Giles daily and also went home with him nightly.

“It was tough and hard,” said Giles. “You have them every day and night. We had a lot of good times together. She did a lot of good work for the department.”

Winnie had been sick off-and-on for the past six months. It was recently discovered that cancer had overtaken her kidneys.

Stilwell estimated Winnie assisted in making hundreds of drug arrests and spent countless hours doing demonstrations to schools, churches and community groups. She was a favorite among the school groups, Stilwell said.

“These dogs, in addition to their detection work, do so much positive public relations for the department,” Stilwell said.

Both Giles and Winnie both received training from the Central Alabama Police K-9 in Jemison.

“She was new to it at the time, and I was too,” Giles said.

Giles said he hopes the city would be able to add another narcotics dog but that no animal would ever “replace” Winnie. The police department still has one K9 officer, “Tiger,” who is handled by Giles’ brother, Donald Giles.