Stearns County Sheriff's K-9 Unit
The Stearns County Sheriff’s K-9 program began in 1999 with a single dog. Since then, the program has expanded to two K-9 teams, supported entirely by donations from local citizens and local businesses. All of the expenses, including veterinary expenses, food, and supplies, are covered by donations to the Stearns County K-9 Fund.
Both dogs live at home with their handlers and have become family pets. Each handler’s squad car is specially equipped to suit the needs of that K-9 team and their particular specialty. Every K-9 team is required to maintain a very high level of skill. This is maintained through daily training and annual certification from the United States Police Canine Association.
CANINE BIOGRAPHIES
Dog: Cooper-in service since 2002
Function: Tracking lost children and adults
Certifications: Tracking
Breed: Bloodhound
Found: Donated by the A.L.I.E. Foundation (Abducted Lost Innocent Enough)
Dog: Bella-in service since 2007
Function: Tracking lost children and adults
Certifications: Tracking
Breed: Bloodhound
Found: Donated by the A.L.I.E. Foundation (Abducted Lost Innocent Enough)
Both Cooper and Bella use their acute sense of smell to track people. They are able to follow a fresh or stale track and can start a track several different ways. They can start by smelling an article of clothing or some other object that has the person’s scent or they can start a track in the last place a person was seen.