Aug 8, 2016 2 min read

The first canine member of Washington County Sheriff’s Department started work Monday.

“It was kind of funny this morning. It was almost like he knew,” said deputy sheriff Kristie Salzman. “Once we got in the car, it was go time.”

Salzman is the handler for Obie, a 2-year-old black Labrador retriever and the only working K-9 officer in the county trained to detect explosives.

The duo made their rounds early in the day, checking the courthouse, county-owned Courthouse Square building and the complex’s parking garage.

Obie also is trained in tracking, and the team is available to assist deputies of the department or other agencies in the area.

Salzman recently completed a six-week course held at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Mercer County.

“It was by far the hardest thing I’ve done in my career,” said Salzman, who’s been a law enforcement officer for nearly 23 years.

“The certificate says that we completed the 300 required hours, but we did a lot more than 300 hours,” she said.

Along with classroom work, the course included field simulations on and off the grounds of the facility.

“The six weeks I went to training was more to train me with him,” she said. “He’d already been trained.”

The team was at the courthouse late Monday morning, where court officials and others in the building greeted the friendly 89-pound Lab with affection and curiosity.

Salzman said people should ask before petting her partner, in case he’s in the middle of a job and needs to stay focused.

The cost of the dog, training and equipment from Shallow Creek Kennels was $12,500, which was covered through donations.

Tractor Supply is donating the dog’s food, Salzman said.

She said the department is seeking donations to cover safety equipment for Obie, including a protective vest and heat alarm for the specially outfitted SUV he rides in.