The Nash County Sheriff's Office is introducing a new fleet of K9s to the department.
According to the department, several of the dogs have retired this year, leading them to bring in new dogs.
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Nash County Sheriff's Deputy Braxton Johnson and his dog, Eliot, are new to the team.
"He's probably the best partner anybody could have," he said.
Johnson is following in his dad's footsteps, who was also a K9 handler.
"It just kind of makes me feel like I'm [filling] his shoes, or kind of making him proud, being a handler," he said.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office has 10 K9s in total.
In our area, Nash County K9s have been involved in several high-profile cases, finding missing people and detecting drugs.
It takes extensive training to be involved in that type of work, including four weeks of tactical training and at least 16 hours per month. Some handlers use tools like treadmills and take excursions on helicopters to prepare the dogs for the most extreme circumstances.
"My school was four weeks long, Monday through Friday. We consisted of day training and nighttime training," he said. "It starts really rocky. You have to build that bond with them."
Plus, the dogs in Nash County must go through 16 hours of training every month, which makes sure they remain spry both physically and mentally.
For Johnson, being a handler is a lifelong dream.
"I've always wanted to do it growing up," he said.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office is introducing all of the new dogs on its Facebook page.