EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has added a new four-legged member to its team. Nova, a nearly 2-year-old German shepherd-terrier mix rescued from a Portland animal shelter, recently completed narcotics detection training and is now working alongside Deputy Seth Henkel as the agency’s newest K-9 team.  

Nova’s path to law enforcement service began in an unlikely place.  

Picked up as a stray in Portland and housed at the Multnomah County Animal Services, Nova initially displayed kennel aggression that made her less desirable for adoption. However, trainers with the Washington State Department of Corrections recognized qualities that made her well-suited for narcotics detection work, including a strong toy drive, attention to scent and eagerness to work for rewards, Henkel said.  

“People don’t want kennel-aggressive dogs,” Henkel said. “But she has a very high ball drive and attention to detail with her nose, and she wants to work for a ball, which is great for a drug dog.”  

Henkel and Nova completed a six-week Department of Corrections K-9 training program in Airway Heights. During the first week, handlers worked with multiple dogs before instructors selected the best match based on personalities and working styles.  

Henkel was paired with Nova and spent the following weeks training and certifying on the detection of black tar heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl. Nova, alongside Henkel, has now completed over 200 hours of training.  

“She did really good,” Henkel said. “It’s actually insane how fast a dog learns and accepts things.”  

Nova was trained using scent boxes and reward-based methods, learning to indicate the presence of narcotics odors by sitting when she locates a source. Her reward of choice is simple: a tennis ball.  

“She loves tennis balls,” Henkel said.  

The K-9 team recently earned certification through the Washington State Police Canine Association. Nova is trained to detect the odor of narcotics rather than the drugs themselves, a distinction Henkel said is often misunderstood by the public.  

“The most common misconception for a drug dog is dogs don’t find drugs; they find odor,” he said. “If somebody just unloaded five pounds of cocaine somewhere, there can still be odor left in the vehicle even if the drugs are gone.”  

Nova will assist with narcotics investigations throughout Grant County, including vehicle searches, warrant-related investigations and searches within the Grant County Jail. She is also expected to assist with public outreach events and potentially school-related drug detection efforts.  

Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said Nova’s addition fills an important role within the agency.  

“Having Nova available to help find any contraband inside the jail or on someone who’s trying to sneak it inside the jail, that’s valuable and plays a role in both inmate and corrections deputy safety,” Foreman said.  

For Henkel, becoming a K-9 handler was an opportunity he said he couldn’t pass on. After 10 years in law enforcement, spending more than seven years with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office before joining Grant County, Henkel stepped down from a sergeant position to accept the assignment.  

“I thought it was a super cool opportunity,” he said. “It’s a change of pace. It’s just me and my dog. That’s all I have to worry about.”  

While Nova is serious about her job, she also has a playful side. During training, instructors discovered she is unusually ticklish around her front and rear legs. Henkel also recalled a memorable training exercise when Nova climbed into the back seat of a vehicle and refused to come out for nearly 20 minutes – until she was bribed by several trainees with multiple tennis balls.  

“She’s got a little bit of sass,” he said. “This job definitely takes a lot of patience and working with your dog to make sure they have positive reinforcement to make good decisions.”  

At home, Nova has quickly bonded with Henkel’s family, especially his children. She has been back in Grant County for nearly a week now. The transition from working dog to family companion has required careful balance, however, as handlers must ensure the dog remains motivated to work, Henkel said.  

“She is in love with kids,” Henkel said. “She just wants to be loved and petted.”  

Foreman noted that strong personalities are common among working dogs.  

“All the K-9’s have a little bit of personality that their handlers must tolerate or correct, but none of it is violent,” Foreman said. “The K-9’s are just excited to go to work and do the work that they do.”  

Looking ahead, Henkel hopes Nova will help address drug-related issues in the community, particularly the ongoing fentanyl crisis. He also hopes the sheriff’s office can expand its K-9 program and eventually add another narcotics detection dog.  

For now, however, Nova is busy settling into her new role, one tennis ball at a time.  

“Everybody wants to meet her,” Henkel said. “She’s already a fan favorite.” 

    Grant County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Joey Kreite (left), Deputy Seth Henkel (middle), K-9 Nova and Chief Deputy of Corrections Phillip Coats (right) smile for a photo. Nova is the newest K9 at GCSO and is trained to detect black tar heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
  

    Grant County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Seth Henkel stands alongside the newest member of the sheriff’s office, K-9 Nova. Nova was a stray at the Multnomah County Animal Services before she was found by trainers at Washington State Department of Corrections and chose to be trained as a drug detection K-9.