AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – A remarkable story unfolds as a canine finds his true calling as a drug detection dog with the Airway Heights Police Department.
According to a Facebook post by the Airway Heights Police Department, Officer Clay Pierson and his partner, K9 Officer Rozzo, have been instrumental in Rozzo’s transformation.
“He’s got a lot of energy,” Pierson said. “But that’s ideal for drug detection. You need high-energy dogs willing to do anything to sniff out drugs.”
Rozzo, a rescue dog, was deemed too energetic and focused to be a family pet, making K9 training his final chance for adoption, the department noted.
“He’s an exceptional dog,” Officer Pierson added. “He’s quick to learn. During training with the Department of Corrections, they saw his potential. I’m proud to have him.”
Pierson explained the rigorous training drug detection dogs undergo, where a ball serves as their reward for identifying drug odors.
“They can detect residual amounts, whether small or large,” Pierson said. “In training, we constantly adjust the quantities to acclimate their noses to various odor strengths.”
Dogs like Rozzo play a vital role in maintaining community safety.
