The York County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania has a brand-new team member, and he may already be the most beloved deputy in the building.
Meet Mason, an adorable bloodhound puppy who has officially joined the sheriff’s office K-9 program.
K-9 Sgt. Mason was made possible through a partnership with the York County District Attorney’s Office and a major fundraising effort by local Freemason lodges. The campaign raised $75,000 to cover Mason’s training, supplies and other costs.
It took 14 months to find the right dog for the job, and officials said they did not stop searching until they found the perfect fit.
Mason is now the third bloodhound to join the York County Sheriff’s Office K-9 program since it launched in 2008. He was officially sworn in on March 20 during a press conference filled with supporters.
“We’ve all heard, ‘Not all heroes wear capes,’” Pennsylvania State Sen. Kristin Phillips said at the ceremony. “Some of those heroes wear a badge, and they walk on two legs, and some walk on four legs.”
Mason’s job will be man trailing, which means he will use his powerful nose to follow human scent and help locate missing people.
And while his floppy ears and wrinkly face make him almost too cute to handle, they also serve a serious purpose.
Bloodhounds are famous for their incredible sense of smell. According to the Associated Press, they have about 300 million scent receptors, far more than humans and more than any other dog breed. Their long ears and loose skin help trap and funnel scents, allowing them to follow trails that may be days old.
Bloodhounds have already proven how valuable they can be in search efforts across the country.
Earlier this year in Los Angeles, an LAPD bloodhound named Coco reportedly helped lead officers through the Angeles National Forest during a nearly nine-hour search for a missing hiker. Coco crossed creeks, pushed through fallen trees and even had to be lifted over an eight-foot wall before the hiker was found and airlifted to safety.
In Washington, D.C., another bloodhound named Bubba found two missing people in just four months. His handler said the dog’s favorite thing to do is get out and find people.
Experts say technology like drones and helicopters can help during searches, but nothing replaces a trained dog on the ground.
“To actually get a direction and start moving in a direction, you’re going to need a dog on the ground to start that trail,” Danny Jones, executive director of the U.S. Police Canine Association, told the Associated Press.
As for Mason, he has plenty of training ahead and a long career waiting for him. Bloodhounds typically work for about eight to 10 years before retiring.
For now, the little pup is getting ready to grow into a serious search dog.
But judging by the reaction to his debut, Mason has already mastered one part of the job: winning over an entire county.