The First American Water Spaniel
to work as Narcotics Detection Dog!

Scarlett was trained as a detection dog at K-9 Capers in Dunn, NC.  She then worked for the Cumberland County Alcohol Beverage Control Board – Law Enforcement Division in Fayetteville from late 1995 through mid 1997.  Her handler reported that in just 6-8 months of 1996 alone she had 60 finds resulting in 56 charged with a combined street value exceeding $95,000.  The finds were marijuana, cocaine, liquor, and weapons.  Scarlett and her handler also assisted non LEA agencies in searches.  Scarlett’s career ended in 1997 due to blindness from Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome.  Scarlett is the only – and The First – American Water Spaniel clearly known and identified as having worked as a law enforcement drug detection dog. 

Submitted by her final owners Holly Thau and Hank Werner.