From Shelter To Service: Escambia County Working Dogs
November 18, 2018
Each Saturday morning, Escambia County Animal Control Supervisor Kevin Monfreda and his 3-year-old bloodhound, Bo, visit campuses and parks along the Gulf Coast. The two aren’t stopping in for a game of fetch or a jog — they’re rigorously perfecting Bo’s skills as a scent trailing dog.
The pair has been working together since July 2015, when Monfreda adopted Bo from the Escambia County Animal Shelter after Animal Control officers removed the 7-month-old puppy from an animal cruelty situation.
“He was so cute, and we just really bonded,” Monfreda said.
After two years of training and miles of scent tracking across various terrain, Monfreda and Bo are now certified by the North American Police Working Dog Association as a scent trailing team.
“When we first started training, we’d do short runaway sessions, where the handler gets the dog excited, then drops an article of clothing and runs away out of sight, creating a scent trail,” Monfreda said. “The trails are marked with scent flags at first, and then as the dog gets older and more experienced, you take away the flags and continue adding more turns while lengthening the trail, so they have to look hard for the scent.”
The pair are now part of KLAASKids, a nationally recognized volunteer search and rescue organization that provides search managers, planners, field searchers and K-9s to search for missing and trafficked children. Monfreda and Bo have participated in three active searches for missing children.
In addition to the weekly Saturday training sessions with other teams in the area, Monfreda and Bo attend regional seminars and training events. The two will attend their next seminar on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Sarasota, Florida, which will focus specifically on urban scent trailing.
“He really likes the urban seminars– it makes him think,” Monfreda said. “He enjoys the challenge. He’s a laid-back dog, but he really likes to work.”
Another county working dog who got her start at the Escambia County Animal Shelter is 5-year-old German Shepherd mix, Britt.
Britt was picked up as stray by Animal Control officers in 2015 and was taken to the Escambia County Animal Shelter and made available for adoption. She was adopted shortly after she was placed at the shelter, but was quickly returned.
Officer Robert Oliver and Sgt. Boswell of the Escambia County Road Prison were visiting the animal shelter to check on an inmate performing work duties when they noticed Britt in her kennel.
“She seemed attentive and trainable, so we took her out of the kennel and went over to an exercise pen and believe it or not, she already knew verbal commands and had a very high toy drive,” Oliver said. “She just loved to play ball, and that’s actually what we use to start training our narcotics dogs.”
Oliver noted that dogs with an extremely high toy drive make great narcotics tracking dogs because of their relentless desire to find an object or toy.
After seeing Britt’s toy drive and trainability, Oliver decided to pull her from the shelter to work as a narcotics dog for the Escambia County Road Prison. Oliver enrolled Britt in a training course with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and she successfully completed 240 training hours and received her certification from the United States Police Canine Association.
Britt now works directly alongside Oliver and searches areas where inmates live and work, including lockers, vehicles and various jail buildings.
“She comes to work with me every day and while the inmates are working on the roads, she’ll do a housing area search,” Oliver said.
The Road Prison also has four call beagles and one call bloodhound that make up the rest of the tracking team.
In 2016, Britt competed in the Southern States Manhunt Field Trial and placed fourth in the narcotics search. She returned in 2017 to compete in the same search and came in second place against 17 other dogs.
“She was the only dog who placed in the competition that came from a shelter,” Oliver said. “She’s a sweetheart and a hard worker.”
Britt currently has 20 documented narcotics finds for Escambia County, and has found marijuana, methamphetamine, spice and prescription pills.
“She’s a great working dog a and real asset to our team,” Oliver added.
The two are preparing for Britt’s next Southern States Manhunt Trail competition in 2019.
John Robinson, Animal Services manager, said his staff is always looking for dogs that come into the shelter that might make great tracking or search and rescue dogs.
“Escambia County Animal Services is really proud to see dogs that come from our shelter helping people and also representing shelter dogs in a positive light,” Robinson said. “Great dogs and cats can come from any animal shelter and be great additions to families, and sometimes they can even become productive members of a team.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cassevah Named Ernest Ward Middle Teacher Of The Year
November 18, 2018
Bob Cassevah has been named the Ernest Ward Middle School Teacher of the Year. He teaches civics. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Let The Miracle League Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey
November 16, 2018
Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you next Wednesday, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity. And there is still time to make an appointment.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection. A minimum of $20 per turkey is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Call (850) 384-6836 with questions or to schedule your time (leave a message if no answer). Reservations should be made early as the number of time slots is limited.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
JoLynn Jackson Named Jim Allen Elem. Teacher Of The Year
November 16, 2018
JoLynn Jackson has been named the Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She teaches kindergarten. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
It’s Operation Christmas Child Collection Week At First Baptist Bratt
November 14, 2018
Volunteers are busy this week at the First Baptist Church of Bratt during “National Collection Week” for Operation Christmas Child. For the 24th year, the simple, gift-filled shoe boxes will bring Christmas joy and evangelistic materials to children in over 130 countries across the world.
National Collection Week for OCC continues through November 19. The First Baptist Church of Bratt is the official drop-off location/OCC Relay Center for the north end of Escambia County, FL.
Pastor Tim Hawsey, Relay Center coordinator, said the shoe boxes are distributed by trained local pastors and volunteers around the world…right where the children live. The children that receive the box are invited to participate in a twelve step bible study called The Greatest Journey translated into their native language and taught by local people the children know.
Collection hours at the First Baptist Church of Bratt will be:
- Wednesday, Nov. 14, 5-8 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 15, 4-6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m.-noon
- Saturday, Nov. 17, 9-11 a.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 18, 1-3 p.m, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 19, 8-10 a.m.
“This is about being a blessing and bringing God’s love and hope to children in poverty around the world that would not receive it otherwise. We have gone through the intense process of been approved as a church to be a Relay Center to collect the boxes from individuals, families, and churches of our area, document and pack them into special cartons and take them to the next level for Samaritan’s Purse, and we have been blessed to do it for nine years now,” Hawsey said.
Operation Christmas Child boxes should be packed in a specific manner. For more information, call Hawsey at the First Baptist Church of Bratt at (850) 327-6529, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ, or call (800) 353-5949. Resources are available for churches that wish to participate.
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational non-profit organization that has mission’s opportunities all over the world.
Pumpkin Pie At Century Library; Thanksgiving Color Contest At Molino Library
November 14, 2018
North Escambia branches of the West Florida Library are holding a pumpkin pie program and a Thanksgiving coloring contest.
Pumpkin Pie Perfection
- Thursday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. – Century Branch Library
No, it’s not the man in the moon! Here comes that tasty pie with a spoon.
Thanksgiving Coloring Contest
- Through Saturday, Nov. 17, all day – Molino Branch Library
Children up to age 12 can pick up their coloring sheet and entry form at the Molino Branch starting Monday, November 5. Color the lively Thanksgiving turkey and return him to the Molino Branch by Saturday, November 17, for a chance to win a prize. Winners will be announced on Monday, November 19.
Bonus Photos: Northview Cheerleaders, Band
November 12, 2018
For a bonus gallery with the cheerleaders and band from Friday night’s Northview football game, click here.
For a game action gallery and story, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate, Northview High Schools Hold Veterans Day Programs
November 11, 2018
Northview and Tate high schools held programs Friday to recognize local veterans.
At Tate, the program was presented by the JROTC, band, orchestra and choir. It featured patriotic music and a POW-MIA table.
The Northview program included a special flag folding ceremony and an POW-MIA table from the NJROTC.
For photos from the Tate program, click here.
For photos from the Northview program, click here.
Pictured: A flag folding ceremony during a Veterans Day program Friday at Northview High School. Pictured below: A POW-MIA table during Friday’s Veterans Day program at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com photos and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Superheroes, Firefighters Hold Annual Toy Drive
November 11, 2018
The heroes of the Atmore Fire Department has a little superhero help Saturday for the their Annual Firefighters Christmas Toy Drive at Walmart.
The firefighters, along with the likes Superman, Supergirl, Captain America and Wonder Woman collected toys for needy children this Christmas.
The toys will be distributed in Atmore and to children impacted by Hurricane Michael. Because of the great need created by Michael, the firefighters will collect toys again on December 8.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Eggart Named Lipscomb Elementary Teacher Of The Year
November 11, 2018
Betsy Eggart has been name the R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She teaches first grade. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.