Wellness Coalition Seek Drug Dog For Sheriff’s Department

WHEELING — A reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding should lead to the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department getting a second drug dog.

In May 2023, commissioners approved a community grant from ARPA funding to the Ohio Valley Wellness Coalition to purchase a “comfort” dog for the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $12,000.

“The comfort dog was not acquired with the funds,” County Administrator Randy Russell explained. “Those funds have been returned.

“The Wellness Coalition is now asking that the $12,000 be applied toward the purchase of a drug detection dog for the sheriff’s department.”

Last spring, the department brought on board a new K-9 drug detection dog named Kronos. But a second older drug dog is reaching retirement age, according to Sheriff Nelson Croft.