Gracie wore a black bandana around her neck as she stood inside Reading City Council Chambers.
It was adorned with a special message, one that explained why a large crowd had gathered to celebrate Friday.
“I’m retired — you’re not. Have fun at work tomorrow,” it read.
The end of Gracie’s career, which officially came Sunday morning, is a big deal. For the past eight years she has been one of the city’s most dedicated arson investigators.
That’s why her retirement called for a bit of pomp and circumstance, and a table filled with gift bags stuffed with treats and toys. And that’s why dozens of people posed for photos with Gracie, offering her pats and scratches that set her tail wagging.
Gracie is a yellow Labrador retriever who has served as the Reading Fire Department’s fire accelerant-detection K-9. She performed her duties alongside her two-legged partner, Lt. Trent Zulick.
The 9-year-old pooch helped the department rule out foul play in situations where it would have been extremely difficult for people to search through the charred remains of structures.
Lt. Trent Zulick and fire department K-9 Gracie greets well wishers during a retirement sendoff for Gracie in City Council chambers at City Hall on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Reading Fire Chief James Stoudt said the number of people who showed up to honor Gracie for her hard work was a little overwhelming.
“She has been a wonderful asset for the city in many ways,” he said. “We are all going to miss her, but she will be in good hands.”
As Fire Marshal Jeremy Searfoss thanked the more than 100 people that showed up to the ceremony, Gracie barked as if to second that sentiment.
“I know we’ll all miss seeing Gracie every day,” he said.
Searfoss told the crowd about how Gracie came to the city. He said nearly two decades ago he was sitting at the scene of a fire waiting for a fire accelerant-detection K-9 from Allentown to help sniff out the cause, when he began to think about how great it would be for the department to have its own four-legged investigator join its ranks.
A couple of years later, when he took the helm as fire marshal, he decided to do some research and found that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had a program that would connect the city with its very own K-9. He applied on a whim and was pleasantly surprised when he received word that Reading was approved.
Searfoss then reached out to Zulick to see if he would be willing to be the handler, knowing that it would be an around-the-clock commitment. The lieutenant agreed and shortly after that he entered a six-week program where he was matched with Gracie and underwent vigorous training.
And the rest is history.
“This is a tough job,” Searfoss said. “Gracie is a regional asset who travels all over to help solve investigations day in and day out. And that means that the lieutenant has to take calls at all hours of the night.”
Searfoss said he’ll be sad when Gracie doesn’t show up for work but at least he won’t have to share his morning snack with her anymore, explaining that his coworker is prone to beg for bites of his banana.
“I’ve shared my banana with her for the past six years,” he said with a smile.
Searfoss then reached into a gift bag and held up a bundle of three bright yellow bananas. He squatted down and presented Gracie with one of them, and she wagged her tail in approval. He peeled it and she gladly accepted the parting gift to laughter from the crowd.
Reading Fire Marshall Jeremy Searfoss gives a bunch of bananas, her favorite snack, to K-9 Gracie with her handler Lt. Trent Zulick and Fire Chief James Stoudt during a retirement sendoff in City Council chambers at City Hall on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
He then turned his attention to Zulick, commending him for his dedication to ensure that Gracie was always ready to do her job. He also thanked him for his willingness to continue the program with a new partner at his side.
Zulick began training a new K-9 on Sunday, saying doing so will feel a bit odd after working an estimated 275 cases with Gracie all throughout the commonwealth.
“It’s going to be strange going to work with a new dog and leaving Gracie at home,” he admitted. “But I think she’s going to like being a couch potato. There are already some mornings when it can be a little difficult to get her off that couch so I think she’ll be OK.”
Zulick said most people never remember his name — but they know Gracie.
“I’m fine with that,” he said with a smile. “But, seriously, she has done her job and she has worked very hard at her job. I thank all the people here for recognizing that and I’m sure that, if she could, she would tell you she appreciates it very much.”
Reading Fire Marshall Jeremy Searfoss presents an award to Lt. Trent Zulick and K-9 Gracie as Fire Chief James Stoudt looks on during a retirement sendoff in City Council chambers at City Hall on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)