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Road Prison Officer Finds Perfect Partner In Animal Shelter Rescue Dog
April 21, 2017
Road Prison Officer Robert Oliver was looking for the perfect dog for Narcotic Detection Handler’s School. While he was anxious to begin the training, he knew that finding the right dog was worth the wait.
Britt, a 4-year-old German Shepherd, was picked up by Escambia County Animal Control as a stray. After being adopted from the shelter, she was returned because her adopters thought she was “too much dog.”
On Nov. 4, 2015 Oliver rescued Britt from the Escambia County Animal Shelter after spotting her during a random checkup on a work squad.
“She stood out from the rest of the dogs,” Oliver said. “We were checking on a squad and we walked through the kennels and saw her. We got a ball and took her out to a pen and threw the ball to see if she had toy drive.”
At that point, Oliver knew he had found something special in Britt.
“We asked if we could borrow her, and I contacted the trainers from the sheriff’s department,” he said. “They tested her and said if we didn’t want her, they did.”
Britt was tested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 instructors and recommended for narcotic detection. On Nov. 17, 2015 Officer Oliver and K-9 Britt began Narcotic Detection Handlers’ School. After 200 hours of training, both handler and K-9 received their Certification in Narcotic Detection.
The first week of March, the pair attended a testing seminar put on by The United States Police Canine Association. Testing was conducted on room searches as well as vehicle searches. Officer Oliver and K-9 Britt were both certified through USPCA in narcotics detection. They have since re-certified.
As the Road Prison’s only narcotics dog, K-9 Britt and Oliver have made numerous narcotic “finds.” They routinely search the Road Prison, crew trucks and job sites where road crews are working. They also search the Work Release center and the Main Jail.
The pair have also trained and competed at the Southern States Manhunt and Field Trials. In 2016, just after becoming certified, they took fourth place out of nearly 20 teams in the Drug Detection Division. This year they fared even better, winning second place out of 14 teams.
“I’ve had several other institutions ask me to keep an eye out for a dog at the pound,” Oliver said. “We’ve even connected a few dogs.”
While Oliver’s demeanor is stoic, he recognizes how lucky a find K-9 Britt was.
“She’s a great dog,” Oliver said. “She’s loveable, she’s wired up. She checks on you all the time. If you move she thinks you want to go throw the ball.”
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “Road Prison Officer Finds Perfect Partner In Animal Shelter Rescue Dog”
That’s awesome im glad she is safe and that she is doing great
Great job Robert now all you need to do it train Britt to find your deer too
Hey hey great suggestion since the dog is with you all the time
Great story. Thank you!
Love to read good news articles with great ending.
This is awesome!!! Our son was able to adopt his Army bomb dog he served in Iraq with.
Brit looks very happy!
Man, almost couldn’t see him with that tiger stripe uniform on
This is the second rescued dog. They had a black lab that did narcotic work also. They had him for many years. The black lab was headed to the pound but the owner contacted Susie Rogers and gave him to her.
Robert, the only comment you left out of this article is the fact that you forgot to mention you were adopted from the same kennel : } Just kidding. Glad to see you’re still involved in the K-9 Unit there and I’ve always thought you were a great fit for that position. That’s a beautiful dog and I’m sure it’s glad you came through and he got a new home. Couldn’t be with a better handler/owner. Keep up the hard work and take care. Mike Amerson
What a great story. As a foster mother for a local chihuahua rescue it warms my heart to see such things from a formerly unwanted dog. Glad this baby got her chance to shine and her shot at real live. Thank you to the Officer for giving her her furever home.