Fayette County K-9 finds missing person with 6-hour-old scent

FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — A Fayette County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy saved a missing person by doing something most dogs would have a ‘ruff’ time with.

According to Fayette County Sheriff Mike Fridley, on Saturday, June 29, 2024, a report came in about a missing elderly person who had left their house on foot and had been gone for six hours. Due to the nature of the investigation, Corporal Wickline and K-9 Nala, who is a 2-year-old German Short-Haired Pointer, began tracking the missing person.

K-9 Nala is certified in both tracking and finding drugs.

While tracking, K-9 reportedly picked up a scent and followed it nearly 700 yards into the woods to an old hunting shack. Once at the shack, deputies removed the door and found the missing person inside.

The unidentified person said they had gone inside and that the door jammed behind them, making it impossible to get out.

Fayette County Sheriff Mike Fridley provided the following statement:

To follow a six-hour-old scent trail is amazing for any K-9,” said Sheriff Fridley, a previous K-9 handler himself, “we work hard training with our K-9s and it showed last night with Nala.

Mike Fridley | Fayette County Sheriff

K-9 Nala was welcomed to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office back in October 2023 .

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