Last Friday night, officers from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida got a call about an 11-year-old girl who had gone missing in the area.
They started their search in a nearby park, knowing that finding the child in the dark would not be easy.
Luckily, K9 Officer Mary Lou was there to help.
Alongside her handler, Deputy Sarah Ernstes, Mary Lou searched the park using her sharp eyes and even sharper sense of smell.
Her keen nose led her to a restroom in the park, where her wagging tail signaled to Ernstes that the child might be inside.
“She only does it when she’s close to somebody,”
Ernstes explained.
And indeed, Mary Lou was right:
The brave K9 officer had found the missing child, allowing Ernstes to talk to her and assure her that she was safe. But Mary Lou did more than just find her.
Afterwards, the pup showered the girl with affection — a reward for a job well done, and a comforting gesture for the child.
“I told you she’d give you a big, slobbery kiss,”
one of the officers said to her.
Thanks to Mary Lou, the tense situation was resolved peacefully — and for that, she deserves all the “good girls.”
“Our teamHCSO K9 Unit has once again shown its invaluable role in our community,”
said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.