The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office recently added a new bloodhound to the K9 division. K9 Porter was born July 4, 2024, and was acquired directly from the Georgia K9 Center in Canton, GA. Deputy Scott Fischer and K9 Porter completed a two-week certification and training course at Edisto Island, S.C., focusing on tracking and trailing techniques.
K9 Porter serves as an additional bloodhound, taking over the duties of K9 Freddie. In line with Sheriff Soyka’s ongoing initiative, the bloodhound K9s are brought in on a staggered rotation. This approach ensures the incoming handler has the opportunity to learn from a current handler, providing a smooth and effective transition without both teams being new at the same time.
K9 Porter joins K9 Storm who is teamed with Deputy Laura Berg.
The purchase of K9 Porter, the associated training and the acquisition of a specially equipped K9 squad vehicle were made possible through generous community donations and various fundraising efforts. The county said it’s grateful for the continued support that allows the K9 program to thrive and evolve.
