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Hats off to Ruger, the diligent police dog whose keen sense of smell led authorities to a missing autistic teenager in a Florida parking lot, ensuring a successful rescue.
The urgent search began on April 21, when the young teen disappeared from his home, leaving his family and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on high alert.
Enter K-9 Ruger and his handler, Officer Chris Havens, who quickly joined the mission. With a sniff of the teen’s sock to guide him, Ruger embarked on the critical search, according to police reports.
K-9 Ruger, a valued member of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, played a key role in locating the missing autistic teenager on that pivotal day.
Footage from a body camera documented the tense moments of the search, showing Ruger leading officers through dense brush and eventually to the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Ryar Road without hesitation.
The “paws-itive” ending came when cops heard the boy’s screams for help coming from a nearby business lot.
“You did a good job calling us over,” an officer is heard telling the teen in the body camera video. “When you see the police, you say something to them.”
“We’re glad we found you, we were getting really worried,” he said.
K-9 Ruger and Officer Chris Havens responded to reports of a missing teenager, using the scent from his sock to track him, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)
After a checkup, the boy was reunited with his frantic family.
“When your loved one goes missing, we deploy our best tools to find them quickly and safely,” the department said.
A Jacksonville police dog is being praised after successfully tracking a missing autistic teenager by following the scent from a sock. (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office via Facebook)
As for Ruger, police said that the dog earned himself a chew toy.
“Because he was able to lead officers close to the missing teen, K9 Ruger earned himself his favorite toy and plenty of ‘Good boy!’s!”
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