From Coco to K9 Fuse – a dog’s journey

ISLE OF WRIGHT COUNTY, VA – Coco was a very sociable and friendly red pit bull mix – well-loved and a favorite of many of the IOW Animal Shelter volunteers. But for some reason, she kept getting passed over by potential adopters. 

Coco’s big break came when the volunteers who worked with her recognized she had a strong scent drive, which was confirmed by members of the IOW County Sheriff’s Department K-9 team.

A local animal rescue put shelter volunteers Chris and Tonya Lovelette in contact with Sector K9, a canine detection training program in Midlothian. Along with their partner, Animal Farm Foundation, Sector K9 pulls pit bulls with strong detection skills from shelters all across the nation and trains them for detection work. Once the dog completes the course, he/she is then donated to a police department somewhere in the United States. 

Based on the information they provided, Sector K9 thought Coco was a prime candidate for detection training, and asked the Lovelettes for a video of her performing some very specific tasks.

Chris and Tonya had devoted a significant amount of time with Coco – and worked with her to produce a video which demonstrated that Coco did indeed have the talent and drive for detection work. 

After viewing the video, Sector K-9 agreed to accept Coco into their program. IOW Shelter volunteers paid for Coco’s plane fare, and escorted by volunteer Keri Noggle, she flew that very weekend to Midlothian and began her training – and subsequent donation to the Ferris Police Department.

With Coco’s new life came a new name: K9 Fuse. 

K9 Fuse is not the same dog she was in the rural shelter in Windsor, Virginia. Her uncertain kennel life is behind her. 

With the help of the dedicated and compassionate staff and volunteers at the IOW Animal Shelter, she now has a purpose – one that allows her to get drugs out of the community while simultaneously bridging the gap between dog and human.