Heroic 'porn-sniffing dog' dies after putting over 200 sex offenders behind bars

10 January 2023 , 13:14

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Utah's "porn-sniffing dog" has died after putting hundreds of offenders behind bars (Image: Weber County Sheriff's Office)

A heroic pooch nicknamed "porn-sniffing dog" has died at the age of seven after putting over 200 sex offenders behind bars.

The K-9, named URL, from Weber County Sheriff's Office in Utah, US, was only the fourth dog in the world to be trained as an Electronic Storage Detection Canine.

Partnered with detective Cameron Hartman, the K-9 completed over 200 search warrants and found digital evidence for dozens of child sex abuse material.

Some of the clever dog's achievements included finding a USB drive disguised as a key on a full ring of keys and discovering a micro-SD card in a closed baby food jar in a box full of other items inside a large chest.

In addition, he was even able to find mobile phone parts hidden in a wall behind a toilet in Weber County Jail.

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The dog's handler Mr Hartman revealed it was a "privilege" to serve alongside URL who gained the nickname "porn-sniffing dog" for his abilities to sniff out horrific material.

The K-9 completed over 200 search warrants and gained digital evidence for child sexual abuse material (Weber County Sheriff's Office)

He said: "What a privilege it was to serve alongside you. URL, my heart is broken and still filled with so many memories and emotions.

"I am so lucky to have been able to get to know you and serve the citizens of Utah and its surrounding states with you.

"Thank you, URL, for trusting me, for working so hard, for loving me unconditionally, and for being part of my family.

"You were always there for me as I benefited from your talent in helping to catch some of the wolves that live among us."

"It's been an unbelievable honour to have been the largest part of your unstable life. I will miss you terribly until I get to see you again."

The dog's handler Detective Cameron Hartman revealed it was a "privilege" to serve alongside URL (Weber County Sheriff's Office)

The pair, who lived together after URL retired last year, worked for the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, Department of Homeland Security, the Utah Department of Corrections, Weber Morgan Narcotics Strike Force, and other agencies.

URL was deemed as "untrainable, loud, not good on a leash and a biter."

However, the dog was picked up by the Central Indiana Labrador Rescue and Adoption organisation in May 2016 and his life was turned around.

Harman would conduct training searches several times a day which would help him locate misplaced items or key evidence.

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The agency paid tribute to URL on Facebook writing: "With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to our partner URL."

He was priceless for cops as the attorney general's office revealed URL had a success rate of nearly 22%.

The K-9 would pick up critical pieces of digital evidence that would have been otherwise overlooked by officers.

Liam Buckler