K-9 Bo’s journey from a playful pup to a nationally recognized hero dog is nothing short of extraordinary.

This remarkable 20-month-old Bloodhound with the Gastonia (North Carolina) Police Department has achieved feats that most dogs only dream of. His sharp tracking skills, unwavering determination, and incredible sense of smell have made him a beloved figure in his community—and a national hero.

Bo's journey started in April 2023 when he joined the Gastonia PD, went through rigorous training, and officially became a police dog in October 2023.

It wasn’t long after that when his exceptional skills were put to the test, according to his handler, Sgt. David Rowland.

On a frigid January night in 2024, Bo was called out to locate a missing elderly patient, who had wandered off in harsh conditions. The search was complicated by miles of rough terrain. Bo tracked the person through the cold, ultimately bringing them to safety. His success wasn’t a fluke—it resulted from relentless training and a deep instinct to help those in need, Rowland says.

But it was in May 2024 that Bo truly captured the hearts of the public. Bo was called to track down a seven-year-old child who had been abducted at knifepoint.

The kidnapper, a family member under the influence of drugs, had taken the child into a remote area. Bo and Rowland embarked on a grueling seven-mile track that stretched over four hours. Through dense woods, across rough neighborhoods, and even in the face of harsh weather, Bo stayed focused. His efforts led to the safe recovery of the child from an abandoned building. The situation ended peacefully thanks to Bo's tracking ability and the teamwork of the Gastonia PD’s SWAT team.

"The moment we found that child, I couldn't stop smiling," Rowland recalls. "It was a feeling I’ll never forget. It just showed me how much Bo is capable of. Without him, we wouldn't have found that child, and that makes him a true hero."

That rescue, along with others, earned Bo the American Humane Hero Dog award on November 8, 2024. This prestigious award, which recognizes dogs who have made a significant impact in their fields, celebrated Bo's extraordinary work in locating missing persons and saving lives.

Rowland proudly accepted the honor for the dog who had become his partner, protector, and friend.

“I was so surprised he won,” he says. “He was up against some really cool dogs, and I had convinced myself they would not select a Bloodhound as the winner.”

What set Bo apart from the competition wasn’t just his heroic rescues—it was his remarkable consistency, according to Rowland.

Unlike many other dogs, Bo can track a scent even after it has dissipated for hours, something that would have been impossible for most K-9s. His ability to track a 10-day-old scent and locate a missing person after nearly two weeks is nothing short of astonishing, Rowland says.

Even with all these heroic feats, Bo has shown his abilities in everyday moments as well. In one instance, Bo tracked a suspect involved in a shooting and car chase. After a mile-long pursuit through a creek and dense woods, Bo cornered the suspect, who had no idea the dog chasing him wouldn’t bite. Bo was simply trying to catch up with the suspect and offer a lick of encouragement—before the man realized he was no match for Bo’s determination.

Bo is used when ever tracking is required, and at just 20 months, has helped the department recover many missing persons.

Credit:

IMAGE: Gastonia Police Department, Bill McGinty

Bringing On Bo

Bo’s story is not just about a dog who is good at his job; it’s about a dog who has made a real difference in people’s lives. His tale is one of love, bravery, and service. Whether it's rescuing a missing person or providing hope in the darkest of times, Bo exemplifies the true meaning of heroism, according to Rowland.

At the time of his first deployment, Bo was just 17 months old. At nearly two years old, he’s now a vital part of his team, continuing to impress his handlers with his tracking skills.

But bringing Bo onto the force wasn't a straightforward decision. It came with challenges, especially as the department worked to expand its K-9 unit without incurring significant costs or increasing liability.

Rowland, as Sergeant of the K-9 unit, was responsible for expanding the team. The department already had six patrol dogs, but Rowland recognized a specific need—one that couldn’t easily be fulfilled by their existing canines. After some deliberation, the solution arrived in the form of Bo, a bloodhound.

Rowland says the addition was made possible through a partnership with the Jimmy Ryce Center, a nonprofit born out of tragedy to provide bloodhounds to law enforcement nationwide.

The Jimmy Ryce Center was formed after the heartbreaking murder of 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce, whose disappearance went unsolved for days due to the lack of a capable search dog. His parents turned their grief into action by funding a foundation dedicated to providing law enforcement with bloodhounds. Through their support, Bo was brought to the department.

"When we got him, he was only eight weeks old," Rowland recalls. "We started his training from day one—playing, chasing, and gradually introducing him to the hustle and bustle of the city."

The focus of Bo's training was on the specific role he would fill: missing person searches, according to Rowland.

His training, he says, was a mix of rewarding innate abilities and patiently teaching him tracking techniques.

"Everything starts with chase. As a puppy, we’d make him chase a decoy around the park,” he says. “Over time, we increased the distance, making it more challenging. The key was to keep rewarding him with his favorite treat—chicken meatballs—whenever he found the right odor."

As the months passed, Bo’s abilities began to show. Rowland describes how they worked up to longer and more complex tracks. From running short distances to having Bo follow scent trails where he couldn’t even see the decoy, the goal was to teach him to rely entirely on his nose. Eventually, the bloodhound was able to track a 1.5-mile-long, 75-minute-old trail, the standard for his certification.

Bloodhound Training: Not for the Faint of Heart

Training a bloodhound like Bo isn't for the faint of heart, Rowland adds. He describes the difference between working with a bloodhound and his previous German Shepherd, Colt, as follows:

“German Shepherds are highly intelligent and eager to please. They work for you. Bloodhounds are more independent. They’re not working for you—they’re working for food,” he explains with a laugh.

Tracking is something a German Shepherd must be trained to do, but for a bloodhound tracking is genetically bred into them. Bo, with his big ears and endearing, goofy demeanor, also tracks differently than German Shepherds, Rowland adds.

"A German Shepherd tracks by following footprints on the ground. This is known as ‘tracking.’ But a bloodhound, with his head up, follows the odor in the air—that’s called ‘trailing,’" he continues. This difference means that while a German Shepherd can be slowed down and controlled to some degree, a bloodhound like Bo takes off in an all-out sprint once he's on a scent.

"It’s like a controlled car wreck," he jokes. "We’re running full speed."

Working with Bo challenges Rowland not just physically, but mentally. He explains he had to learn to read the subtle cues Bo gives off when he’s on the scent.

"Learning to read him and his cues on tracks was a big learning curve for me,” he says. “Bo gets really excited. His head snaps around, his tail wags like crazy. You can see the moment he picks up fresh odor. I had to learn to watch his body language and the tension on the lead to decipher if he is pulling toward an odor or searching for it. It’s a huge change of tempo. With a German Shepherd, you are able to slow down and think. But with a Bloodhound you are sprinting the entire time.”

Maintaining a bloodhound’s focus over the long haul also takes consistent training, according to Rowland.

For a year, Bo underwent daily training, gradually scaling back to a couple of sessions per week, with intense eight-hour training days every month. "He's a single-purpose dog," he explains. "His job is to track. So, we focus on that."

Why Add a Bloodhound?

Adding a bloodhound to a K-9 unit is more than just a tactical decision; it’s an investment in community safety, according to Rowland.

He highlights the importance of having a bloodhound in a department’s toolkit, especially in situations involving vulnerable individuals, such as missing children or older adults. “It’s like an insurance policy,” he says. “You might not use the dog all the time, but when you need it, you’ll be glad you have it.”

Bo’s presence has already proven invaluable. Two weeks after certification, Bo’s first deployment was to track an 11-year-old autistic child who had gone missing. It was a test of the young bloodhound’s skill, and he passed with flying colors.

“This is why we have him,” Rowland adds. "When that call comes in—and it will come—you’re grateful to have a tool like Bo on hand."

Looking to the future, he recommends other agencies consider adding bloodhounds to their K-9 units.

“They’re not a replacement for dual-purpose dogs that can do everything. They are a unique, cost-effective tool that can make a huge difference in missing person cases,” he says. “And when that missing person is found, whether it’s a child, an elderly person, or even a suspect, it shows the community that you’re doing everything you can.”