Pasco Residents Facing Crisis Have Friend In Woodie

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Woodie loves to make people smile.

In fact, she loves it so much, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office has made it her job.

Woodie is the sheriff's office newest therapy K-9, one of a growing number of four-legged friends used by the sheriff's office specifically to comfort people undergoing stress and anxiety.

K-9 Woodie is a 1-year-old Plott hound who will serve in the sheriff's community engagement unit alongside her partner, Cpl. Arthur Madden.

She's the first Plott hound to join the Pasco sheriff's office and is one of only a few female K-9s in the sheriff's 40-member K-9 unit.

Unique among the six AKC coon hound breeds, Plott hounds are descended from German “Hanover hounds.” They're named for the Plott brothers, two German-born brothers who came from a family of gamekeepers. The brothers set sail for America in 1750 with their five hunting dogs, but only one of the two brothers, 16-year-old Johannes, survived the crossing with the five dogs.

See related story: Sheriff Employs Lovable Pit Bull Mix As Mental Health Therapy K-9

While Plott hounds have the tenacity, fearlessness and nose for tracking, the American Kennel Club said they're also friendly with kids, strangers and other dogs, loyal, sympathetic and good-natured, making them ideal therapy dogs.

K-9 Woodie was rescued from a shelter and selected by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to join its “Paws & Stripes” program in which prison inmates learn life skills while teaching dogs to be calm and confident companions.

As an animal-assisted therapy dog, K-9 Woodie accompanies her partner on calls for service to comfort those experiencing a crisis.

She's named for Woodie’s Wash Shack, which donated the funds to purchase, train and equip K-9 Woodie.

In fact, all 40 of the Pasco sheriff's K-9s are purchased, trained and equipped with community donations.

In addition to animal-assisted therapy K-9s, the sheriff's office has K-9s that specialize in detecting illegal narcotics, accelerates and explosives, can track missing people, even after long delays, can find human remains that are buried or in water, and can find those who are missing in natural and man-made disasters, such as building collapses.

For those interesting in supporting the K-9 unit, click here.