There are only nine Electronic Storage Detection Dogs in Canada and one of them is now in Saskatoon. And Taffy is the only ESD dog in the province.

The nearly three-year-old golden retriever was presented a badge Friday as she becomes an official member of the Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatchewan’s newest resource in internet child exploitation investigations.

Taffy was welcomed to the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit after completing the Jordan Detection K9 Electronic Storage Detection Program in Indianapolis.

Staff Sergeant Tim Failler, Coordinator of the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit, says that Taffy’s special training makes her an asset when looking for electronic devices.

“Electronic Storage Detection Dogs otherwise known as ESD are purpose trained to detect chemical compounds commonly found in electronic devices such as cell phones, USBs, hard drives, SD cards, laptops and other digital media.”

She is also trained as a deep therapy support dog.

“Since joining the SPS Taffy has fulfilled each function of her role. Locating devices during the execution of search warrants, providing comfort to a child victim during a interview with child abuse investigators and most recently supporting members of the SPS following the recent loss of a colleague.”

Taffy was obtained by SPS at no cost through Our Rescue, an organization that supports efforts to combat human trafficking and child exploitation by deploying ESD’s.