The Oakwood Gleaners invited Deputy Gary Deitrick of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office along with the K-9 officer Jano. Deitrick explained the new K-9 program to all the visitors to the meeting, but it was Jano that stole the show.
Jano is a German Shepherd dog that is specially bred and trained for finding narcotics and at his age of only 22 months, he struggles with holding himself still during meetings with sweet and tasty cookies stacked on the table beside him. Really, who wouldn’t?
So far Jano has found drugs in numerous vehicles that Deputies found as suspicious, even at the schools he has been sent to in other counties.
You may remember Paulding County having a K-9 unit 20 years ago, but when the previous Sheriff took over he removed the program immediately. Sheriff Landers, the current leader, has found it necessary to bring the program back. So far it has been very successful.
Sheriff Landers went to the County Commissioners last year and asked for line item in the budget for a K-9 unit. That began the program and within three weeks of putting it in the West Bend News, all the money needed was donated, none came from the general fund. Jano was purchased last year and the program was established. The fund is still paying for his needs including the kennel setup at Deitrick’s home. Iams, who makes dog food in Allen County, Ohio, has been donating all of his meals. They have promised to feed him for the rest of his life, and he his no small eater.
See Achieving the goal here:
The dog and his master were trained in Allen County, Indiana. Deputy Deitrick explained how training started in September and lasted 16 weeks (extended due to weather), finishing in January. Once a month they still go back for continuous training. Gary will also work with him nearly every day to practice the skills needed to track humans and pursue the scent of drugs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UBzllIi6X8c
This police dog is also trained to pursue humans in such cases as an escapee or even a lost child. Jano can be given the scent, like a hunting dog, and can pursue the human. He has done time trials where he traced humans over a half mile distance in 13 minutes. Every human is constantly giving off scents, called rafts, that fall of the skin and is similar to a fingerprint, each one is different. In some instances his master can tell him to attack and Jano won’t let go until he is called of by the voice he knows.
A dog like Jano is expected to be very useful for 7-10 years before he would need to be retired. What happens then? Usually he is purchased by his master from the county. We’ll have to wait and see on that one. Jano is just a young pup and he’ll continue to be useful for many years to come.
If someone would like to contribute to the fund, contact the Sheriff’s office at 419-399-3791
The Oakwood people loved having the meeting full and the K-9 unit was a special treat with Deputy Gary Detrick giving his presentation.
