Franklin County's K9 program is expanding the roles of police dogs

Flashback: When Sgt. Darrah Metz started Franklin County's therapy dog program in 2017, it was the first in the state and the sixth in the country.

• "People thought we were crazy," she tells Axios.

What they did: Metz, with her canine partner Mattis, wanted to do something different with police dogs.

• "I wanted these guys to be working dogs able to withstand environmental stimuli," Metz says. "I wanted to be the flagship."
• The beloved Mattis died last year at 7, but his legacy lives on. There are now 40 similar agencies in Ohio and hundreds across the country.

State of play: These dogs are used for a wide variety of scenarios, almost all related to victims.

• They help calm those dealing with trauma or people with autism, assist witnesses who are testifying in court and soothe people with dementia.

• Some have come from Pilot Dogs, including a trio of brothers in 2019.

Now an expert herself, Metz has helped agencies across the country and wants to continue finding new uses for her dogs, like tracking missing people.

• During her master trainer course, her group visited Pilot Dogs, which opened her eyes to the rigors of training service animals.
• "These people are amazing," she says. "I had no freaking clue."

Go deeper: Franklinton fixture Pilot Dogs' new era after 75 years