SEK9 Bloodhounds Get Ready For Lifesaving New Jobs

August 22, 2025 scentevidencek9

SEK9 Bloodhounds Get Ready For Lifesaving New Jobs!

Eight eager Bloodhounds have completed their scent discriminate training with their new K9 handlers this week. Handlers from agencies in 4 states travelled to Scent Evidence K9 Training Headquarters in Tallahassee to meet and train with their new K9 partners in our comprehensive M77 scent discriminate trailing program. The training included advanced scent collection techniques, urban-hard-surface trails and rural/wooded trails of varying age and distance. The Bloodhounds will be 10 months old on August 31, 2025, and have been working with Scent Evidence K9 trainers since they were 2 months old to build and enhance their capabilities to locate missing persons.

One of the Bloodhound pups, K9 Dottie, met handler Hunter Case and joined the Metro Moore County Emergency Management Agency last week. Just a few days after arriving at her new home in Lynchburg, TN, Dottie assisted in locating a missing 4-year-old with autism. “This is the kind of news we look forward to hearing every day. Our dogs have been training to do this exact job for months and even though they are technically still pups, they are ready to save lives and bring the lost home,” stated Scent Evidence K9 CEO, Paul Coley. Moore County EMS added Dottie to their K9 Search Resources through the Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities grant. Dottie will join another Scent Evidence K9 Bloodhound, K9 Hoss, who was donated by Jack Daniels Distillery and has many lifesaving finds.

SEK9 Bloodhounds Get Ready For Lifesaving New Jobs — It’s tough to get eager Bloodhounds to pose for a photo! (Pictured left to right:) SEK9 trainer Austin Fuller, Barry Bales/K9 Liberty – Cobb Co Sheriff’s Office, William Wright/K9 Maeve – Newton Co Sheriff’s Office, Adam Moss/K9 Rusty – Elbert Co Sheriff’s Office, SEK9 CEO,- Paul Coley, Kyle Bywater/K9 Duchess – Kissimmee PD, SEK9 Trainer – Leo Bronakoski, Josiah Tegg/K9 Scout – Jefferson Co Sheriff’s Office, SEK9 Trainer – Sullivan Ochs, Eric Payne/K9 Rex – Leon Co Sheriff’s Office, Zach Means, and Hunter Case/K9 Dottie – Metro Moore Co EMS.

Here are the other Bloodhounds starting their important jobs in their communities.

Metro Moore County EMS K9 handler Zach Means and K9 Dottie

K9 Max is headed to Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida with new handler Brittany Rowland. K9 Max was donated to BCSO by Senior Resource Alliance in Orlando, FL via the Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities grant. SEK9 dogs donated to agencies in Orlando and the surrounding areas by Senior Resource Alliance are responsible for over 65 reported finds. “K9 Max will be in good company with the other high-performing Scent Evidence K9 dogs at Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Kissimmee PD, and Osceola County Sheriff’s Office,” stated Coley.

K9 Max Brevard Co Sheriff's Office — Scent Evidence K9 CEO – Paul Coley, K9 Max, and Brittany Rowland – Brevard Co Sheriff’s Office

K9 Scout will start his new job at Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri with handler Josiah Tegg. Scout will join K9 Zeus, one of the first Bloodhounds trained by Scent Evidence K9. Read more about Zeus HERE.

Josiah Tegg and K9 Scout — SEK9 CEO – Paul Coley, K9 Scout, and Josiah Tegg – Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, MO

K9 Liberty begins work as a new K9 lifesaver at Cobb County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia with handler Barry Bales. Bales is delivering 300 Scent Kits to their Georgia community to protect vulnerable people before they go missing.

Bales and Liberty w Scent Kits — SEK9 CEO – Paul Coley with Barry Bales/K9 Liberty – Cobb Co Sheriff’s Office getting ready to deliver Scent Kits to GA

K9 Maeve heads to Newton County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia with handler William Wright. K9 Maeve will join another Scent Evidence K9 Bloodhound, K9 Petra who joined the NCSO K9 Unit in January 2025. K9 Petra has multiple finds.

William Wright and K9 Maeve trail up a hill – Newton County Sheriff’s Office

K9 Rusty will begin serving his community at Elbert County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia with handler Adam Moss.

Adam Moss and K9 Rusty — Elbert Co Sheriff’s Office – Adam Moss is on the trail with K9 Rusty during handler training.

K9 Rey is already working with St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office with handler Melanie Merritt. Dep. Merritt and SJSO are long-time Bringing The Lost Home partners and Merritt’s main Bloodhound, K9 Daisy Mae (another Scent Evidence K9 Bloodhound), has dozens of lifesaving search recoveries and suspect locations to her credit.

K9 Duke is already working with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Florida with handler Clint Hart. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been a participating Bringing The Lost Home Program partner for many years and they have many lifesaving K9 searches that include locating the elderly with Alzheimer’s Disease and children with autism.

Coley and handlers discuss scent collection methods — Coley debriefs with handlers after the trail.

“We are proud of the hard work the handlers are putting in with their new trailing partners. These Bloodhounds not only work to locate the missing, but they are also loveable ambassadors of the agency in their communities. People love Bloodhounds and Bloodhounds love finding people! It’s a Win-Win” stated Coley.

New Bloodhound pups are on their way! Check out the K9 Page HERE for updates and availability.