Gastonia Police K-9 Nominated for “Hero Dog” Award
For Immediate Release – September 18, 2024
Gastonia, NC. – The Gastonia Police Department’s only bloodhound, K-9 Officer Bo, has been nominated for the Hero Dog Award sponsored by American Humane. Link to K-9 Bo video: https://we.tl/t-ORjTbBrC95
Bo’s outstanding performance in his first year as a Gastonia Police K-9 helped him make the semi-finals in the law enforcement/first responder category. While Bo is credited with locating suspects in crimes, he is also known for finding people who are missing and, in some cases, in danger.
One such case this spring had Bo and his handler, Sgt. David Rowland, tracking a 7-year-old boy who had been taken by an adult relative at knifepoint. Bo led Sgt. Rowland on a track for 7 long miles until the child was safely located in a shed behind a home. Other notable finds include tracking down armed robbery suspects who held up a food delivery driver and finding an elderly man with dementia who wandered away.
The public will also have a say if Bo is to advance and be crowned the winner in this category. People can vote once a day for Bo at this link https://www.herodogawards.org/dog/2024/law-enforcement-first-responder/bo-7
Bo has a remarkable sniffing ability due to approximately 230 million olfactory cells in his nose. For comparison's sake, humans have 5 million. Bo can follow a scent trail over 300 hours old and uses those big ears to kick up the scent to his nose. He is the only Police K-9 Bloodhound in Gaston County.
Media Contact:
Bill McGinty
Public Information/Media Relations
Gastonia Police Department
Cell: 704-419-0266