K-9 Bloodhound Units

Bloodhounds in Law Enforcement

Bloodhounds are known for their keen ability to track scents and find people with their noses. These canines can also distinguish the scent trail of one human being from that of another. It has been estimated that their sense of smell is to be between 1,000 and 30,000 times as strong as that of a human being. This is why they are greatly used by police agencies all over the world.

Lieutenant Patrick Sheridan & K-9 Ally

K9 Ally


K-9 ALLY

K-9 Ally is an 18 month old American Kennel Club (AKC) registered black and tan Bloodhound. K-9 Ally was obtained in August of 2018, as a result of citizen and business donations, from Wychway Kennels in Buffalo New York. K-9 Ally was assigned to Lieutenant Sheridan when she was 6 months old. After months of extensive training, K-9 Ally was placed in service in May of 2019.

K-9 Ally maintains her skills and certifications, by training with her handler every month and attending several training seminars each year. Because of her continued training, K-9 Ally has proven to be beneficial in helping solve several crimes, found missing people with evidence. 

LIEUTENANT SHERIDAN 

History and responsibilities

Lt Sheridan & K9 Ally During Citizens' Law Enforcement Academy

  • Has been in Law Enforcement for 25 years, 22 employed with the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office. 
  • He originally started out at the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office as a Communications Officer, was hired as a deputy in Fluvanna County and stayed approximately a year and a half. He left Fluvanna and returned to Louisa as a deputy and has since worked his way up through the ranks to Lieutenant of the Patrol Division.
  • He first became a bloodhound handler in 1998 with K-9 Annie trailing suspects in criminal cases and looking for missing persons for Louisa County and surrounding jurisdictions. He and K9 Annie also assisted in identifying the suspect in a high profile murder case that occurred in 2000 that helped lead to a conviction.
  • He later became the handler to K-9 Maggie, who after a successful career was killed in the line of Duty in December of 2011.
  • He later became the handler to K-9 Rizzo who after answering over 425 calls for service and being awarded the Lifesaving award, lost her battle with lymphoma cancer.
  • K9 Ally is the fourth Bloodhound that Lieutenant Sheridan has handled and trained for the sheriff’s office.
  • Thus far in his career, Sheridan has assisted in training bloodhound teams all across the United States as well as other countries such as Canada, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Brazil. 

Accomplishments 

  • Member and trainer of the Virginia Bloodhound Search and Rescue Association
  • Trainer for the International Canine Academy for Search Training
  •  Has been recognized as an expert witness in the field of the Mantrailing Bloodhound

Lt. Sheridan & K9 Ally