The bond between animals and humans is so strong that sometimes we forget we are of different species—particularly when our beloved animal is not only our companion, but also our work partner. One local canine is proving the species' distinction by fulfilling a duty that even humans are incapable of performing. Prince, a bloodhound puppy, was recently sworn into the West York Borough Police Department to help find missing people. He has been training with and working alongside Officer Scott Musselman, who feels privileged to have Prince by his side both at work and at home. Here, we talk to Officer Musselman about that bond.
1. Have you worked with K-9 detectives in the past?
This is my first time being a K-9 handler.
2. How are K-9 detectives vital to the police force?
Dogs have a unique ability to track and detect things that humans cannot. Prince’s sense of smell is 40 times more sensitive than that of a human’s, making him much more capable of finding missing people.
3. When did you first meet Prince?
Prince was donated to the County of York by the Jimmy Ryce Center (jimmyryce.org), which is based in Florida. On March 30th, I traveled to a small town near Tallahassee to choose a dog from their breeder. Choosing Prince was a no-brainer, and he flew back to Pennsylvania with me the next day.
4. How and when did he come to join the police department?
Prince was officially sworn in on April 6th.
5. What exactly is Prince’s job with the police force?
Prince will be used county-wide to find missing people—abducted children, lost adults and fugitives. He also serves as a community relations tool. He attends events, visits schools, etc.
6. What about Prince’s breed and personality make him a good candidate for the job?
Bloodhounds are described as a nose with a dog attached. Prince’s sense of smell is nearly double that of other dogs. His extraordinary sense of smell, combined with his strong and tenacious tracking instinct, make him a perfect K-9 detective.
7. Did he go through special training, like canine boot camp, before being sworn in? If so, what did that training entail?
Prince is currently in training. He trains at least once a week with Summit Search and Rescue (ssarbloodhounds.org), where he learns how to trail live scents. He will continue this training throughout his career.
8. What are Prince’s daily job responsibilities?
Prince primarily spends his time patrolling the streets of West York Borough. He even has his own patrol vehicle, which was generously funded by PeoplesBank.
9. How does Prince spend his time when he is not on-duty?
Prince lives with my family when he’s not on-duty. He’s a very typical puppy—he chews things that he’s not supposed to, eats out of the garbage can and digs holes in the yard. He also sleeps a lot and drools on everything he touches (both bloodhound traits). We created a Facebook page (facebook.com/det.prince) and Instagram account (@det.prince) so that people can see what it’s like to live with him. He has a very serious job, but he’s also a typical, goofy dog. Hopefully allowing people to see both sides of Prince helps to humanize the law enforcement profession a bit.
10. What have you learned from Prince as your partner?
Prince’s training is also my training. We are learning together. He is learning to track live scents, while I am learning how to gauge his reactions so that I know when he’s on the right trail or when he needs help.
11. How would you describe your bond with Prince?
He’s my best buddy. Prince has been a great addition to my family and the police department. I’m lucky he chose me.
