K9s, the name given to police dogs, are invaluable to any police force. With their remarkable sense of smell, they excel in tasks like tracing scents to locate individuals, a task beyond human officers’ abilities.
This exceptional skill proves vital in locating missing persons, especially when time is critical, as in the case of a young child.
In a recent incident, a heroic dog successfully located a missing girl in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
Kinzleigh Reeder, a 6-year-old, had been missing since May 26 after allegedly being abducted by her father, Nicholas Reeder, posing a threat to her safety as reported by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities suspected the father and daughter were camping in the Pea Ridge community and deployed an officer perfectly suited for the task—Fred, a K9 bloodhound.
Like all bloodhounds, Fred possesses an exceptional sense of smell and aids the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office in tracking people.
This one-year-old canine has been instrumental since joining the police force, with a notable early success in March when he tracked down a 13-year-old boy.
“Fred performed admirably,” said K9 Deputy Richard Tidwell, Fred’s handler. “He remained focused, understanding his task well.”
For this particular mission, officers secured a piece of clothing belonging to Nicholas Reeder, enabling Fred to pick up the scent and follow the trail from the man’s residence.
“Upon reaching the house, Fred was released to follow a path leading to a burn pile, a truck, and an outbuilding,” described the sheriff’s office on Facebook.
“He investigated the door and doorknob before sitting down to signal he had found the father.”
Upon the arrival of police detectives, they encountered a locked and reinforced door from inside. After gaining entry, they discovered both the suspect and the missing child.
“Inside the structure, we located the suspect and the child at the back of the shed, concealed behind blankets hung from a makeshift clothesline,” stated Sergeant James Holloway.
Nicholas Reeder was arrested and charged with child abuse or neglect of his daughter, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Kinzleigh was handed over to deputies from DeKalb County, expressing her gratitude to the heroic dog who led to her rescue.
“She received licks on her face from him, and in return, she embraced him tightly,” recounted Deputy Tidwell.
“I commended him and showed him affection,” Tidwell continued. “I even rewarded him with a piece of chicken from my pocket. After enjoying the treat, he eagerly sought to interact with others, as if to broadcast his achievement.”
We are immensely relieved that this girl is safe, all thanks to the heroic K9, Fred!
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