A new bloodhound is joining the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office to help locate missing people, including individuals with dementia and developmental disabilities such as autism.
Senior Resource Alliance donated K9 Valor to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Oct. 6, following the bloodhound’s specialized training with Scent Evidence K9. Valor is paired with Deputy Luis Paredes-Labrador and is expected to begin working with the sheriff’s office this month.
The donation is part of Senior Resource Alliance’s Bringing the Lost Home project, an initiative focused on helping law enforcement locate missing people more quickly.
Bloodhound Will Help Find Missing People
Valor is trained to use scent to help search for missing individuals. The K9 will be particularly valuable in cases involving people who may be more vulnerable when they go missing, including those with dementia or developmental disabilities.
“When someone vanishes, the impacts are far-reaching: the person’s safety is at risk, and loved ones are pushed into a frightening and overwhelming wait for answers,” said Karla Radka, Senior Resource Alliance President and CEO, in a statement.
“Cutting down on wait times provides important relief for Central Floridians navigating the unthinkable, and we’re honored to work with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office to continue growing this program across our region,” said Radka.
Scent Kits to Help Osceola County Families
Along with donating Valor, Senior Resource Alliance provided the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office with scent-preservation kits that can be distributed to residents.
The kits allow families to preserve an individual’s unique scent for up to 10 years. Having a scent sample available can help law enforcement begin a search more quickly if that person goes missing.
The program is designed to help reduce the time needed to begin a search and potentially help missing people return home to their families sooner.
Bringing the Lost Home Program
Senior Resource Alliance launched the Bringing the Lost Home project in 2021 in partnership with Scent Evidence K9 and the U.S. Department of Justice.
As part of the program, Senior Resource Alliance has now donated 11 bloodhounds to local law enforcement agencies. Those K9s have helped locate more than 120 people.
The organization said the partnership with local law enforcement is part of its broader effort to support vulnerable Central Florida residents and their families.
“On behalf of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, I want to extend our gratitude to the Senior Resource Alliance for their generous donation,” said Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon. “Valor will be able to help those in the community at their most vulnerable moment. We are grateful for SRA’s support and commitment to the safety of our community.”
How to Get a Scent Preservation Kit
Residents interested in learning more about scent preservation and the Bringing the Lost Home project can find additional information through Senior Resource Alliance’s website.
The scent-preservation program provides families with a way to keep an individual’s scent on file, potentially giving law enforcement an important resource if a missing-person search is needed.
For more information, visit HERE.
