Stray dog gets second chance at Panhandle prison

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - A stray dog has been given a second chance and a new life at the Escambia County Road Prison.

Britt, a 3-year-old Shepherd mix, was brought to the Escambia County Animal Shelter in 2015. Initially a stray, she was once adopted, but the owners brought her back, saying she was too much to handle.

Shelter staff noticed Britt had a strong ball drive, so they set up a meeting with Escambia County Road Prison officials to possibly take in the dog.

Dogs with strong ball drives see toys as rewards and work for them, which is important when trainers evaluate potential drug search animals, according to Robert Oliver, an officer with the road prison.

Oliver adopted the dog in late 2015 and started training her to work as a search dog in areas where inmates work.

Within a few months, the pair was searching trucks, road department sites and the main jail and finding contraband and drugs that inmates were trying to smuggle in.

“She’s a real sweetheart, and she does really love to work,” Oliver said.

Oliver and Britt competed in both 2016 and 2017 at the Southern States Manhunt Field Trials in Little Rock, Arkansas. During the annual trials, working dogs compete by searching in fields and over long distances through rough terrain.

The pair came fourth in 2016. In March, they climbed to second place against 17 other teams.

“I think it ruffled a few feathers when our mutt from the pound came in and started beating the others,” Oliver said.

Shelter staff are now looking out for more dogs that might share Britt’s characteristics and could be put to work in other county departments, Oliver said.

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Information from Pensacola News Journal, https://www.pnj.com

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Information from: Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, https://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com