Two Elderly people are back home with their families, thanks to the work of two Erie County Sheriff’s K9 teams. Police canines are typically known for their crucial role in searching for drugs and evidence at crime scenes, but on Tuesday, a K9 played the role of hero. Apollo, a three and a half year old German Shepard, used his well trained nose to find an 80-year-old missing woman on Grand Island. Deputy Robert Galbraith, of Erie County Sheriff’s Office, explained the dogs are trained to follow scents, which they call “ground disturbance odor.”
The Love Road resident went missing around 3:30 P.M. from home after her care provider noticed she went missing while he was working in the yard, officials said. That team, led by Apollo, tracked a trail and found her unharmed in the woods about forty minutes later.
Then hours later, another K9 team made a rescue in Clarence at 10:15 P.M., officials said. A care home aid called 911 after noticing the 79-year-old man was not in his home. Deputies Klemp and Arney, Deputy Lundberg and his partner, Haso, searched quickly found the man within fifteen minutes. Haso led the team to the man along Hedgewood. He was found healthy and Deputies returned him home.
