AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is expanding its K-9 training program, deploying highly trained dogs to assist with drug interdiction, explosive detection, and tracking missions across the state. 

Lt. Boyd Lamb, a 19-year veteran of DPS and a member of the K-9 program for 12 years, took FOX on a tour of their training facility in Florence, Texas that transforms untrained dogs into specialized law enforcement assets.

Beyond border enforcement and drug detection, the DPS K-9 program has also played an important role in search-and-rescue missions. One of our tracking dogs helped locate a 38-year-old special needs man who wandered away in Los Naples Park. He had been missing for four to six hours, was severely dehydrated, and needed immediate help. 

“Our K-9 team found him and got him back to his family,” Lt. Lamb recalled. “That moment alone made the entire program worth it.”

K-9 Frio takes in aerial views while adjusting to new heights.  (Sarah Alegre)

With ongoing expansion efforts, DPS aims to further integrate K-9 units into operations across Texas, ensuring that law enforcement has highly trained dogs ready for any mission.