AUBURN – When a situation turns ugly on a county deputy’s beat, help might be a half-hour away.
Deputy Brian Smith doesn’t worry much, because he always has his partner riding with him.
And his partner has a mouthful of fangs and a bark that can freeze even the meanest bad guy.
“If I get in trouble, he’s right there,” Smith said. “There’s nothing like having Youno as backup.”
Youno is a 5-year-old German shepherd who’s been working with Smith for four years.
The dog is trained to do things most officers do, and more.
He tracks people who are lost. He sniffs out wanted felons.
He helps recover evidence, searches buildings and provides protection for his human partners.
“I can’t even guess the number of calls we’ve been on together,” Smith said. “There have been hundreds and hundreds of them.”
Lest anyone think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, Youno is fresh out of school. The shepherd was recently trained to sniff out illegal drugs and his ability has already been put to the test.
“We’ve recovered crack, cocaine and some marijuana already,” Smith said.
Youno, who remains reasonably quiet and subdued when he’s not working, is also certified to sniff for methamphetamine, heroin and hash. The dog works primarily with Smith covering the county beat.
However, the drug-sniffing animal has been called to assist other departments in Androscoggin County and beyond.
Because Youno is assigned to work both patrol and narcotics detection, he and Smith are required to train for 16 hours a month rather than eight. The deputy said he continues to train with the dog on his personal time, as well.
“Training is nonstop,” he said. “That’s what makes him so proficient.”
Youno, who lives with Smith and his family, also entertains and educates school kids, elderly groups, Cub Scouts and anyone else who calls to request a demonstration. Smith says he’s glad to do it.
“It helps people understand,” he said. “These are not nasty animals. They’re just very well trained. They’re trained to do what their handler tells them to do.”
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