Meet Freya Mae, Hillsdale County search and rescue K9 deputy in training

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Meet Freya Mae, the three-month-old bloodhound puppy and the newest member of the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are honored and proud to welcome Freya Mae of Bluegrass Bloodhounds to Hillsdale,” says Sheriff Hodshire.

Freya Mae was donated by the Jimmy Ryce Center for Victims of Predatory Abduction . According to its website, the center distributes pictures of children abducted by predators and tries to get media coverage, works with teachers and parents on how to be more ‘predator smart’, and provides Bloodhounds free to law enforcement to find lost or abducted children.

Freya and Terri Pauken, her handler, are members of the Michigan Independent Search and Rescue.

“This puppy is going to be a warrior and make us all very proud. She will help us provide hope to families searching for their loved ones,” Pauken says.

Freya Mae was bred specifically for tracking out of BlueGrass Bloodhounds in Kentucky.

“A bloodhound has 60 times the scent power of a German shepherd and is the only dog that can follow a human trail more than a few hours old. A bloodhound is your best single bet for bringing a child, abducted by a predator, home, alive. We believe that Jimmy would be alive today if a bloodhound had immediately been brought in to search for our son.”

Claudine Ryce

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