New 4-Legged Deputy Reports For Duty In Sarasota

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has a new deputy on the beat. Unlike his companions, this law enforcer works for food and can sniff out a bomb.

The sheriff’s office officially introduced Ando to the community on Thursday. The Dutch shepherd was born in May 2016 in the Netherlands, and was handpicked for service by Deputy Kevin Skau. (For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Sarasota Patch. Click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Ando’s already packed quite a bit of adventure into this short life. The K9 officer technically joined the sheriff’s office back on July 10 in preparation for the retirement of Skau’s former four-legged partner Hiro.

Ando’s training began on July 31. The eager rookie earned his National Police Canine Association bomb certification on Sept. 20. Ando went right to work after that. The sheriff’s office said he was deployed the same week he became certified to help with special details across Sarasota County.

“Ando is an incredible partner,” Skau said in a statement. “The relationship that evolves between a K9 and his handler is hard to put into words. We rely on one another each time we hit the road and I am confident, with his skills and training, that Ando will be an asset to our agency and community.”

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The sheriff’s office has six dogs and six handlers on its force.

As for Hiro, the near eight-year veteran of the sheriff’s office is spending his retirement at the Skau home. After 1,278 deployments and 102 subject locations, the sheriff’s office said the Belgian Malinois has more than earned time to rest and relax.

Photos courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office