While a beautiful baby or child likely tops the list of most attention-getting social media posts, cute puppy photos aren’t far behind. Hall County Sheriff’s Office officials are betting the latest addition to the department will garner numerous views on its page.
Bella made the trip from Baker Bloodhounds of North Georgia in Calhoun to her new home with Dep. Jeremy Prickett on Wednesday, September 12. Dep. Prickett is a K9 handler for the HCSO Active Criminal Enforcement Unit.
Prickett’s current department bloodhound, Gus, is scheduled to retire in about a year, and Bella has big paws to fill.
“Gus has apprehended so many people; he’s done such a good job. He’s a spot-on bloodhound,” Uniform Patrol Division Captain Brad Rounds said.
Gus also came to the department as a puppy. He spent time with an earlier handler and began working with Prickett a couple of years ago.
Bloodhounds serve in a search and rescue capacity within the agency. About 90 percent of their work involves tracking criminals on the run.
“The only way you can get away from him (Gus) is get in a car and leave or get airlifted out of there, because he’ll find you. He’s something else,” Rounds said.
While using those famous noses to look for offenders occupies the bulk of their service, the HCSO has also used its bloodhounds to look for missing dementia and Alzheimer’s patients and children.
“People don’t realize how important bloodhounds are to us,” Rounds said.
With Gus finishing out his career, officials began the search for his replacement. Rounds said the research involved looking at other law enforcement agencies that use bloodhounds, comparing breeders and what they have to offer and making sure the dogs are AKC registered.
“Like this breeder that we got Bella from, Maryland State Police even come all of the way down here to get bloodhounds…because she (Baker Bloodhounds of North Georgia) has such quality dogs,” Rounds said. “…it’s a very professional outfit. That’s what we’ve got to get. We’ve got to get a good quality dog.”
As far as Bella, Rounds said she stood out among her littermates.
“She’s a pretty girl and was a superstar, but again with the breeders, when they have a good stock of dogs, they’re all superb animals. It comes down to personal preference on the part of the handler.”
In this case, the handler is Dep. Prickett. He called the trip to Calhoun with Patrol Lt. Sean Bradburn an exciting one.
“My kids have been bugging me for months now wanting to know when we were going to pick her up. I know for the next six to eight years, she’s going to be with me in the patrol car every day. It was just really exciting to start training,” Prickett said.
The training will first involve basic commands, like sit, stay and come here. Around December, Prickett said he’ll start doing short tracks with Bella.
“Me and all of the other K9 officers will be training her. About every day I’m on duty we’ll be doing some training with Bella until she gets tracking as good as Gus,” Prickett said.
The pup will also spend plenty of time with Gus to learn from him.
As for Gus’s retirement, he’ll spend his remaining years with the Prickett family.
“He’ll retire and stay at home and lie around and get fat,” Rounds said.
Dep. Prickett said he hopes that’s the case, but he’s not certain.
“I’m hoping he wants to just lie around, but he loves his job. He loves what he’s doing. Every time he’s home, he has his nose to the ground tracking something. I don’t know if he’s just going to lie around, but that’s what I hope he’s going to do.”
