It’s often said that timing is everything, and K9 officer Mary Lou exemplifies this truth!
This remarkable Bloodhound, partnered with Deputy Sarah Ernstes from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, showcased her outstanding tracking abilities on January 26th, 2024.
Upon receiving an alert about a missing child in the vicinity, Deputy Ernstes promptly mobilized her team, including Mary Lou. The K9 utilized her extraordinary olfactory skills, leading to a brave rescue within hours!
A Remarkable Talent
Deputy Ernstes, her fellow officers, and Mary Lou promptly responded to reports of an 11-year-old girl missing in Wimauma, Florida. Together, this incredible K9 swiftly canvassed the vicinity, following the scent of the girl.
After searching a neighbor’s residence, they discovered that the child had been given a lift to one of the nearby apartment complexes.
The quest ultimately brought them to a nearby park, where Mary Lou truly shined!
After a thorough search, she began wagging her tail near one of the park’s restrooms. Her handler noted that such behavior indicates she is close to someone, which soon proved accurate!
When the officers observed Mary Lou positioned by the restroom door, they commenced their rescue operation.
A Heartwarming Moment
A video shared by HCSO captures Mary Lou concluding another successful mission.
“Our units proceeded to the location where K9 Mary Lou was able to alert our deputies to a locked bathroom door at a park in the vicinity,” HCSO announced on Facebook.
Following a brief exchange with the girl, Deputy Ernstes reassured her of her safety. As soon as the girl unlocked the door and emerged, a moment of pure sweetness unfolded!
Mary Lou appeared thrilled by her successful rescue, wanting to conclude it in the most heartwarming way! Once Deputy Ernstes confirmed the girl was comfortable around dogs, she allowed K9 to express her joy.
As a reward for locating the missing child, Mary Lou bestowed a delightful kiss on the girl’s face and showered her with love and affection. This is a routine she follows after every successful mission, and she did not disappoint this time!
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office beams with pride over their dedicated team who conducted such a commendable service.
“Thanks to their exceptional talents, they successfully located and safely returned a missing 11-year-old girl to her family. I couldn’t be more proud of our team’s commitment to serve the community and their unwavering resolve to protect and assist,” HCSO noted in a Facebook post.
Mary Lou is undoubtedly one of the star K9s in the unit, and once again, she demonstrated her extraordinary tracking capabilities.
