LOCAL NEWS

Like Inmates, Utah County Jail K-9 Was Once A Little Wayward

Apr 4, 2019, 7:57 AM | Updated: 8:12 am

SPANISH FORK, Utah — Inmates looking to turn their lives around might find an unexpected source of inspiration at the Utah County Jail.

One of the deputies there knows what it’s like to be in the doghouse.

Before Utah County Sheriff’s K-9 Reikko became one of only two dogs statewide currently believed to patrol a jail, he too was a little wayward.

“He was kind of a mess when he was dropped off,” Reikko’s handler, Deputy Rick Shumway, said. “He was very skittish, he was very afraid of people.”

 

Reikko’s journey began more than two years ago when he was dropped off at an animal shelter at the age of 7 months.

Soon, though, he fell into the hands of the all-volunteer rescue agency, Rescue Rovers, which was able to place him with a foster family.

Wesley Fors and his wife, Sharon Chandler, brought Reikko into their home and attempted to give the dog some much-needed structure.

“She knew that we had trained some more difficult dogs before and they had a special case that needed a home with no children and structure in the home,” Chandler said.

The couple admitted they didn’t realize how much work that was going to be, and from the start they didn’t know what he was going to do next.

“He was muzzled, tried to bite me when I got him out of the truck,” Chandler recalled. “He tried to bite Wes five or six times before we got him out the back door so he could go to the bathroom.”

Reikko’s behavior started to change, however, due to the couple’s determination and training.

“We had very strict crate schedule with him,” Chandler said. “After the first week, we were able to take the muzzle off. He was super smart. They’re extremely intelligent dogs, and training went really well.

The couple believes the dog’s troubles started with a lack of structure.

“I think a relatively young family in Utah County had him,” Fors said. “(They) just didn’t really interact with him too much or lost interest in him or something, and he became too much dog for them.”

Two years later, Fors and Chandler said they believed Reikko is finally living his “best life.”

Shumway agreed, as he helped Reikko demonstrate his proficiency in uncovering illegal drugs in the jail.

“This is that high-activity drive that we love seeing — not to mention that desire for physical contact,” Shumway said.

Shumway said he believed Reikko could be an example to the inmates of the jail.

“You can turn things around, you can find your place and be very successful,” Shumway said. “It’s going to take work, it’s going to take a lot of work, but if you’re willing to do the work, you can find your place — find something you can do to be productive and happy.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

9 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

9 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

9 hours ago

A trench used for training a team of firefighters to be a part of Utah County's Special Response Te...

Shelby Lofton

Heavy Rescue school students respond to real-life emergency during trench collapse training

A team of firefighter students training to be on a Special Response Team rescued a man buried in a trench collapse the week they'd been studying trenches.

9 hours ago

The Cache County Council took up the e-mail controversy...

Mike Anderson

A single text stirs political fallout in Cache County election

A text message is blowing up into a whole lot of political fallout in Cache County.

10 hours ago

A map shows where the Chief Toquer reservoir will connect to the Ash Creek Reservoir....

Cary Schwanitz

Feds pour $7 million into southern Utah water pipeline project

A project to build a new pipeline that will run from the Ash Creek Reservoir to the Chief Toquer Reservoir received $7 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Like Inmates, Utah County Jail K-9 Was Once A Little Wayward