Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes New Bloodhound After 13-Week Training Program
Moose, an energetic 10-month-old bloodhound, just graduated from Cape May County’s K9 Training Academy. Working with S/O Joseph Szotak, he joins an elite team of nine dogs serving Monmouth County law enforcement.
Through all kinds of weather, the duo completed an intense 13-week program. They learned essential skills like tracking suspects and searching buildings, preparing for the real challenges they’ll face on patrol.
The K9 unit is now stronger than ever. While some dogs detect bombs and others find drugs, Moose will specialize in locating missing people and chasing down suspects who flee.
What sets bloodhounds apart? Their noses contain an incredible 300 million scent receptors. These tracking experts can catch the faintest trace of a scent and follow it for over 130 miles – that’s like running from New York to Philadelphia!
Their wrinkled faces serve a purpose. The loose skin and floppy ears act like natural scent collectors, gathering tiny particles. These amazing dogs can even track scents nearly two weeks old.
At the academy, handlers learn more than just tracking. They practice writing reports, handle stressful situations, and learn to work with scent evidence. It’s demanding training for important work.
The training center helps prepare police K9 teams from all over the region. Every exercise focuses on practical skills these teams will use in their daily work.
Sheriff Shaun Golden couldn’t hide his excitement at the graduation. Next month, Moose and his handler will start their new duties, ready to help their community.
“Moose will be a significant asset to our K9 Unit, since his sole purpose is to locate individuals,” Sheriff Golden said to newsbreak.com.
