Sandusky County looking for a new K-9

FREMONT — The Sandusky County Sheriff's office is looking for a good deputy — of the four-legged kind.Sheriff Chris Hilton said an anonymous donor has offered to cover the purchase price of a new K-9 for the department."Depending on the dog they can cost from $7,000 to $10,000," Hilton said.The department has a K-9, Brutus, who is about seven years old and was sworn in for duty in May 2011.Brutus, who is about 100 pounds, is large for a K-9 and the work they do. He has been experiencing medical problems, such as with his hips and spine, Hilton said."Brutus will continue to work for about a year. I did not want a gap so we will get a new dog, get him trained and we can have two K-9's for a while," Hilton said."It will probably be a German Shepherd. They are usually easier to handle for first time handlers. I would like to have him cross trained in as many things as he can do but it all depends on the dog," Hilton said.That would mean a dog capable for sniffing for drugs, tracking people, trained to enter a home with members of a Special Response Team and more. Training the new dog would take about five weeks.Deputy Allen Dorsey has been named the new K-9 handler.Dorsey and the K-9 would then undergo another six weeks of training.Hilton and Deputy Brian McGrady, Brutus's handler, anticipate first meeting soon with Bryan Woods, of Lynnwoods Kennels in Fremont, where Brutus came from. Then they will open it up to other business to see where they can get the best dog for the best price, Hilton said.Brutus, the Sandusky County Sheriff's K-9, in June 2011. Brutus is experiencing medical problems with his hips and spine. He is expected to work another year or so. A private donor has agreed to cover the cost of a new K-9.