Poland Township Police Department find new canine for narcotic detection

The Poland Township Police Department announced on its Facebook page that the search for a canine candidate ended with the addition of Sal.

Ptl. Chelsea Wolfe and Canine Sal will begin an Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)-approved training program to prepare Sal for narcotics detection.

The Facebook post outlines Sal's road to becoming a narcotic detection canine.

According to the Facebook post, Sal was originally found wandering the streets on the south side of Youngstown. He was found and taken to the Mahoning County Dog Pound where he was known as "Hal".

After no one had claimed or offered to foster or adopt him, Hal was eventually relocated by the Every Dog Matters Rescue Group to their shelter in Boardman where he was renamed "Sal".

Sal became a favorite among volunteers at the shelter who noticed that he exhibited a high hunt drive, a love for toys and a sociable nature.

Poland Township Police Department Chief Wilson contacted the Enforcer Working Dog, an canine training organization, to conduct an evaluation on Sal, which he would go on to pass.

From there, Sal was relocated again to the Enforcer Working Dog Training facility where he began training to detect narcotics.

According to the Facebook post, Ptl. Wolfe and Sal will begin the OPOTA training curriculum on Tuesday to prepare Sal to be a "narcotics detection police canine".

In the Facebook post, the department wanted to thank trustees Eric Ungaro, Joanne Wollet and Ed Kempers for their support of the police canine program and Devon Carr for rescuing Sal and other dogs in need and getting them to safe places.

Special thanks were also listed in the Facebook post for various people and organizations who came together to help make Sal's journey possible.

Download the WFMJ app for your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet to get our push alerts as news happens.