South Caroline Sheriff’s Office Adds Firearms Detection Dog

The Charleston County (South Carolina) Sheriff's Office has introduced a new police dog trained to detect firearms and notify deputies if someone is carrying a gun in a restricted area.

Winnie, an 18-month-old black labrador, will complete primary training within the next month, according to the article.

"She's trained in gunpowder," Sgt. Matt Anderson, her trainer, told ABC4News "You have your single base – which is a gunpowder that is used in your older things like nozzle loaders. Flintlock is the original old-school gunpowder. Then, what we have done to make that burn a little hotter is add nitroglycerin, that's called double-based. That goes in all your common firearms: your rifles, pistols, things like that. And then we'll train gun oil."

Anderson told the news outlet that Winnie is filling a much-needed role. People are carrying guns everywhere due to a lack of understanding of the state's new open carry law. But Anderson pointed out there are still many areas where people are unable to carry, such as in Charleston County Schools.

Anderson will still do weekly training once Winnie starts working patrol, the article reported.