Broward County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kelli Covet and her loyal K 9 companion, Anthem, were recently honored as the Jimmy Ryce K 9 Trailing Team of the Year! Their remarkable expertise shone through in December when they successfully rescued a non verbal child facing immediate danger.
Just before 11 p.m. On Thursday, December 14th, BSO deputies rushed to an address in unincorporated Central Broward near Ft. Lauderdale following a distressing report of a missing 9 year old child with special needs. Due to the child’s vulnerability and the complex terrain filled with waterways, along with challenging weather conditions marked by strong winds at 25 mph, traditional aerial search methods were not feasible. The search mission thus turned to the specialized skills of K 9 units. Deputy Covet and her dedicated bloodhound partner, K 9 Anthem, were quick to arrive at the scene.
With a sense of urgency, Deputy Covet cleverly utilized sterile gauze to capture the child’s scent from his shoe, providing an effective scent sample for K 9 Anthem to follow.
He confidently made his way along the trail, first heading west and then north on a residential street, skillfully handling the strong winds. Eventually, he turned east onto another residential street where the child was found safe and reunited with their family.
Deputy Covet and K 9 Anthem have been nominated for the Florida Missing Children’s Day 2023 2024 Jimmy Ryce Trailing Team of the Year Award. Their supervisor praised Deputy Covet’s unwavering commitment and K 9 Anthem’s exceptional tracking skills for swiftly and safely locating a vulnerable child, highlighting their invaluable service to the community and BSO. Their actions exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement and public safety.
The BSO’s Bloodhound Unit specializes in searching for missing individuals who are most at risk in the county – children, seniors, individuals with special needs and those with mental health conditions. These bloodhounds utilize advanced tracking techniques to conduct searches effectively. Moreover, these furry responders also serve as therapy dogs, offering comfort and support to those in need – truly remarkable!
This report was submitted by;
Claudinne Caro/Bilingual Public Information Officer
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