K-9 Ali retiring; sheriff's office to raise funds for new dog

Since 2003, Wright County has been protected not just by our police and sheriff’s deputies, but also by a faithful K-9 unit. The program started off with narcotics dog Lexi, handled by Chief Deputy Jeremy Hogrefe. In 2009, Lexi was retired, and Wright County purchased its current narcotics dog, Ali.

Ali is a Dutch Shepherd, a high-energy, high-drive breed, which is a part of the reason she’s such a successful drug dog. Her handler, Deputy Adam Nerlien, said she’s searched hundreds of vehicles and homes and kept pounds of illegal narcotics and thousands of dollars in drug money out of the hands of drug dealers around north central Iowa. She’s also won three first-place trophies and one second-place trophy at the United States Police Canine Association trials held in Iowa every year.

Nine-year-old Ali still does a great job and enjoys her work, but tends to be a little tired the day after a big job and is starting to suffer from arthritis. Nerlien said that in the spring, he plans to get Ali settled with a friend in the community so she can rest from work but not be too far away. “That way I can still go out and see her,” he said. “As any animal does, she becomes part of the family.”

 

For the full story, see the October 6 edition of the Monitor.

Wright County Monitor

P.O. Box 153
Clarion, IA 50525
Phone: 515-532-2871
Email: news@wrightcountymonitor.com

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