Pamela Dodson/Courier

From left are Clemson Kennel Club member Lee Bryson, president Brian Jones, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Josh Underwood, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jonathan Byers and club vice president Barbara Goff.

By Pamela Dodson
Staff Reporter

pdodson@thepccourier.com

CENTRAL — Across Pickens and Oconee counties, the value of police K-9 units is immeasurable.

Both counties’ sheriff’s offices depend on these service animals to find illegal narcotics and deadly explosives, all of which can potentially bring harm to area residents. These dogs can also save an officer’s life in an unexpected situation. As a result, K-9 units become like family and are treated as fellow officers on each force.

[cointent_lockedcontent]In order for these animals to do what they’ve been trained to do, they have to be protected and cared for properly. The dangers of animals being left in a hot vehicle are very real. Even on a cool spring day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach dangerous levels in just a few minutes.

The Clemson Kennel Club saw a need to help protect the K-9 officers from this type of danger, so members used their love of animals to help fill this need by donating two “Hot-N-Pop” devices.

Hot-N-Pop devices have become a necessity for K-9 units across the country. The unique device monitors the temperature inside the car and alerts the officer when it becomes too hot by sounding an alert horn. It also activates the siren and the vehicle’s light bar and lowers the car windows. The device has adjustable temperature alert settings and is equipped with a safety feature preventing the doors from accidentally opening while the vehicle is moving. The officer also carries a remote that allows him to open the doors, releasing his K-9 partner to assist him in emergency situations.

On Jan. 13, the Clemson Kennel Club held its regular monthly meeting at the Central branch of the Pickens County Library System. Joining the members were local officers from both the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.

During the meeting, the club presented each department with one of the $1,100 devices. Club vice president Barbara Goff presented a Hot-N-Pop device to deputy Jonathan Byers and his K-9 counterpart “Rex” from the PCSO, and club member Lee Bryson presented a second device to deputy Josh Underwood and his K-9 counterpart “Farrah” from the OCSO.

To demonstrate the vital role a K-9 unit plays in protecting the community, Underwood instructed Farrah to smell several boxes arranged around the room. As the Dutch Shepherd smelled each box, the anticipation grew until finally she found the loaded box. The once-playful dog immediately sat down perfectly still, identifying the box using the passive alert technique. This is a valuable tool when searching for things that require special caution, to keep from contaminating evidence, or in the case of explosives, protecting the people working the scene.

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