The City of Las Vegas has a new employee, and this one happens to have four paws, a very good nose and a specialized job inside the Las Vegas Detention Center.

K9 Officer Rudy, a German Shorthaired Pointer born in Norway, was officially sworn in by Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley on September 30. According to the City of Las Vegas, Rudy is a narcotics detection K9 and the only jail K9 officer working inside a Southern Nevada detention facility.

A Specialized Role Behind The Scenes

Rudy’s work is focused on detection rather than traditional patrol duties. He has been imprinted and trained to identify the odors of several dangerous substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin.

At the Las Vegas Detention Center, Rudy works as a deterrent and preventative resource, assisting staff in searches for hidden narcotics and helping identify potential threats within the facility.

The City describes his role as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain safety inside the detention center.

Meet Rudy On The Job

While Rudy may look like a typical energetic German Shorthaired Pointer, his job requires extensive specialized training and focus.

The City of Las Vegas recently shared a video offering a closer look at Rudy’s work and what a day in the life of a detention-center K9 looks like.

For dog lovers, it is also a reminder that dogs can put their extraordinary sense of smell to work in some pretty unexpected places. From search-and-rescue dogs to medical detection dogs and law-enforcement K9s, canine noses can be trained for highly specialized jobs that support the people around them.

Watch the City of Las Vegas’ video, A Day in the Life of Rudy, on YouTube.

And welcome to the job, Rudy. We have a feeling you’re going to be a very good boy at work.