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SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO HAVE K9 UNIT

Since yesterday, it's been a dog's world in Rains County.  The sheriff's department welcomed Indiana, a three-year-old black Labrador retriever, to the department as a law enforcement service animal.  Indiana has been trained to search buildings, vehicles and open areas for four narcotics - marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.

Rains County Deputy Sheriff Greg Stout said that the sheriff's department has seen the need for a canine unit in this county for a long time and ultimately contacted Van Zandt Deputy Sheriff Jackie Buccafurno.  She is the dog handler for that county and picked up Indiana from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.  Stout added, "I've had him at my house for about four months."

Indiana went to Detection Canine of America, a training facility for law enforcement service animals in Bridgeport, the third week of November and Stout joined him there from December 6-17.  "He is strictly a narcotics dog, and although he wasn't trained for officer protection, during the training we discovered that he will protect me.  It's not uncommon for police service animals to do that," Stout added.

At the end of the training session, Stout said that he and the dog were required to search three different areas in timed events.  They were praised by the owner and instructor for setting a record for the school for timed certification.  "We did it faster than any team had ever done before," Stout said with pride.

Meanwhile, there is a strong bond between Stout and Indiana.  No one else is allowed to do anything for the animal, such as feeding or giving treats, because he is trained to be a one-man dog.  Stout went on to explain, "He can't go back and forth between handlers.  By himself, he is nothing; by myself, I am nothing: together, we are a canine team."

Stout said the canine unit will be available to all law enforcement agencies within the county.  He encouraged anyone who thinks "criminal activity is afoot" to contact his or her local law enforcement office immediately.  "The department has invested a lot of time, effort and planning in the canine unit, and we're looking forward to benefiting the community," he added.  Stout has been with the department since June of 2001.