One of my favorite ways to unwind is by exploring Instagram. It’s the perfect place to find an array of dog rescue accounts and delightful dog videos. This week’s Feel-Good Friday shines a spotlight on the impressive Badass K-9s.
The first video might not initially come across as heartwarming, but it truly is. It showcases the remarkable training and skill of a K-9 unit while highlighting the rapid decision-making required by law enforcement to effectively apprehend suspects with minimal risk to civilians.
This particular incident unfolded near downtown San Diego amidst the bustling atmosphere of a convention and a Padres game. With so many people around, the San Diego Police Department had to act carefully. They successfully apprehended a suspect using only their K-9 unit and the least forceful legal means available, complying with California’s regulations.
The suspect in this scenario had allegedly stabbed someone and was attempting to flee. In the video, he appears to resist arrest, brandishing a knife and a large stick menacingly. Despite repeated orders to disarm and surrender, he refused to comply. Consequently, the SDPD deployed their K-9, who expertly subdued the suspect.
WATCH:
The Instagram account owner included a cautionary note for viewers (Content warning: this footage may be difficult to watch), followed by their commentary:
Sharing video of SDPD taking a suspect into custody following a reported stabbing. Officers used less-lethal rounds and a K9 unit, with clear effort to resolve the situation while minimizing further harm.
This unfolded in one of the most heavily trafficked areas of our city, during a Padres game and a major convention. Moments like this highlight the importance of a consistent, visible SDPD presence. Safety matters for residents, visitors, and those in crisis alike.
Bravo to our LEOs, two-legged and four-legged.
This next video is another K-9 adventure tale. Good Boy Rex, a black Labrador K-9 officer, tracked down a missing 7-year-old Colorado child in just a matter of minutes. Even more incredible, it was Rex’s very first rescue out of training!
An Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office K-9 named Rex found a missing 7-year-old girl in just 12 minutes, using her shoes to track her scent.
The girl had run off from her family during a trip to the park and had been missing for about two hours when Deputy John Gray and Rex, a 5-year-old black lab, got the call.
“It was really essential that he not only took us to the area where she went, but he communicated to us where she didn’t go. So that way we knew she was kind of contained in that area,” Gray said. “Being able to deploy him and see it pay off and get a girl safely home — there’s not even really words you can use to describe it.”
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) had recently created the K-9 tracking unit with three K-9s: Rex, Bear, and Riley. These K-9 officers trained specifically in search and rescue tactics for 16 months.
WATCH:
K9 Hero in Action!
K9 Rex, one of our ACSO dogs trained to find missing children, helped locate a 7-year-old girl after she was separated from her mother for nearly two hours. Rex found her in just 12 minutes!
Deputies responded to a park in the 6400 block of S. Telluride St. on April 2 after the young girl ran off because she didn’t want to leave. Deputies, K9 units, and drones immediately began searching the area.
Deputy Gray and K9 Rex got to work using the girl’s shoes to track her scent. Rex quickly picked up the trail and led deputies to a nearby backyard where she was found.
The scared girl tried to run again, but Deputy Halliburton safely caught up with her. She was unharmed and reunited with her family.
This was Rex’s first time successfully locating a missing child since completing his tracking training last year.
Great work by everyone involved, and way to go, Rex! 👏
#K9Hero #GoodBoy #teamwork
👉 Follow K9 Rex on Instagram! @arapahoe_rex_sro
Like Liam Neeson’s character in “Taken,” Rex has a particular set of skills that make him good at his job. According to his handler, Deputy John Gray, Rex started as a therapy dog and served with Gray in his role as a School Resource Officer for Littleton Public Schools. Rex is also trained to detect explosives (as are Riley and Bear).
All of these skills proved useful when Rex found the girl on April 2.
After finding her in a nearby yard, Rex immediately switched from tracking mode to therapy mode.
“They can not only smell our hormonal changes, but they can also lower our cortisol levels,” Gray said. “To be able to bring some comfort to a kid in a pretty traumatic situation, I think was really important.”
What an awesome asset Rex is to this unit. Of course I am now following him on Insta!
