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Standing with Gus are Sgt. C.A. Heywood (left), his handler, and Sheriff Tony Lippa. Heywood and Gus just completed an advanced training course. |
BY PORTSIA SMITH
Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa added a new deputy to his staff--and he's only 2 years old.
Gus, a human-scent sniffing bloodhound, was recently donated to the department by Pete McLintock of Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs in Chesapeake, Lippa said.
Since Gus was 4 months old, he was trained by McLintock's wife for search and rescue operations, such as missing persons and criminal apprehension, Lippa said.
After her recent death, McLintock donated Gus to Caroline.
Although Caroline has had many narcotics canines trained to search for drugs, Lippa said Gus will be the first human-scent dog put into service in the history of his sheriff's office.
Gus and his handler, Sgt. C.A. Heywood, completed the Advanced Urban Tracking for Patrol Dogs and Bloodhounds course and were both certified in April for scent specific trailing by the Virginia Police Canine Association.
Since being certified, Gus and Heywood have worked six cases, including a request for mutual aid last month from Spotsylvania County.
In that case, the team was successfully able to trail a missing and suicidal suspect, who was then taken into custody safely, Lippa said.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Email: psmith@fredericksburg.com
