Meet the dogs who are trained to sniff out paedophiles
From detecting hidden contraband like cash and drugs to bombs - now hard drives are also on their list
POLICE dogs are now being trained to sniff out computer hard drives that could contain child porn to catch out paedophiles.
Pooches have long been known for helping uncover contraband hidden cash, drugs, and bombs - but now hard drives are also on their list.
Dubbed "porn dog" by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office in Utah, the black Labrador is the state’s first electronic detection K-9 and can identify those tiny storage devices that paedophiles have been known to conceal.
The 16-month-old dog named URL, pronounced Earl, operates by sniffing out chemicals used in storage media.
Lieutenant Lane Findlay from the department said: "I think everyone was pretty sceptical. Really? A dog that can detect electronics?
"He certainly has some unique abilities, and we're excited to have him."
Rescued from a shelter when he was a puppy, URL went through six months of training in Indiana before becoming certified.
Now he's specialy trained to sniff out thumb drives, cellphones, SIM cards, SD cards, external hard drives, tablets and iPads - offering a unique set of skills to aid investigators in fighting crime.
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URL will go on to work with the FBI, Homeland Security and many other agencies to find evidence - whether it’s child porn, terrorism intelligence, narcotics or financial crimes information.
He is one of nine certified electronic detection dogs in the US.
In 2014, another police dog named Thoreau, owned by Detective Adam Houston, has also been trained to sniff out electronic devices with x-rated content.
In exchange for food, the golden Labrador spent 22 weeks training at the Connecticut State Police Training Academy.
During that time, the clever canine found a flash drive containing child porn hidden inside a tin box, within a metal cabinet, which led police to secure an arrest warrant.
Detective Houston told : "If it has a memory card, he'll sniff it out. 'This is how Thoreau eats every day."
The detective added that child pornographers often hide storage devices in difficult to find places, such as ceiling tiles and radios
Depending on the success of the sniffer dogs, the initiative could be rolled out in the US in the future