This special K-9 sniffs out hidden evidence used in internet crimes against children

K-9 Scooby is on a team of 27 electronic detection dogs assigned to law enforcement agencies across the United States through a nonprofit called Defenders for Children. (WYFF via CNN Newsource)

GREENVILLE COUNTY, South Carolina (WYFF) -- An organization based in Greenville County provides special K-9 units trained to protect vulnerable children in cases involving child abuse or exploitation.

K-9 Scooby is on a team of 27 electronic detection dogs assigned to law enforcement agencies across the United States through a nonprofit called Defenders for Children. The K-9s are used during searches to find hidden devices and items an investigator may miss, like micro-SD cards, cameras, mics or burner phones.

Nonprofit CEO Toni Clark said 90 per cent or more of cases involve digital content stores on these hidden items, but they often go undetected or overlooked by the human eye. K-9s close the gap in detecting these devices through scent.

“Devices are smaller and easier to hide. It is becoming more difficult and the dogs can smell them,” Clark said.

Each K-9 officer, on average, can detect two or more devices missed by law enforcement agencies in every search. The team has collectively raised US$2 million and located more than 3,200 hidden devices, helping more than 1,000 children.

In many cases, this essential evidence leads investigators to other criminals, confessions and victims.

“We have been on 76 search warrants and found over 150 devices that were hidden or missed,” K-9 Scooby’s handler, and a Greenville County Sheriff’s Office investigator, Alicia Turner, said. “The more social media outlets and things that are out there, that’s just a way to trade or share this material. The more that report it, the more our work rises.”

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported 518,720 CyberTipline reports of online enticement in 2025, a jump from 292,951 in 2024. Cases involving artificial intelligence soared from 6,835 to 440,419.

Defenders for Children aims to spread awareness of the skills these K-9s have and implement them in all law enforcement agencies.

“We need about 3000 of these dogs out there. If you like, look at it. Numbers in different agencies. And that includes federal. It’s hard to keep up because we have some going, others are going to retire,” Clark said.

When Scooby is off the clock, he is still making a difference in the lives of children as a therapy dog. The group intentionally chooses gentle breeds for this reason.

“Scooby comes in, and you can see them light up. Not just the children. It’s wives, the other people that are in the houses. He’s able to bring their stress level down just a little bit and let them forget about what’s going on,” Turner said.

The nonprofit offers the K-9, its training, and covers the cost of staff needed to implement the program.