Police give ‘pupdate’ on K9 that can find digital devices
Posted Mar 23, 2026 03:11:10 PM.
Last Updated Mar 23, 2026 04:20:19 PM.
Piper has grown quickly into her role of finding digital devices in search warrants for Ottawa police.
The canine officer joined the force in December 2025 and has been involved in a number of investigations where not only did she help police find devices, but also comforted victims.
The two-year-old black Labrador has been trained to have a unique ability to help police in child exploitation cases. She has “mastered” detecting the scent of electronic devices like hard drives, USB sticks, SD cards and AirTags.
Since she joined, police said Piper has aided in eight search warrants and found “key digital devices” in most of the investigations. She has also been part of interviews with child victims, who, according to police, have said they wouldn’t have felt comfortable speaking without Piper.
She is the first of her kind in OPS, but not the first in Canada. That honour goes to Harley, a yellow lab who joined Peel Regional Police in 2023.
The K9 officer has been to school visits and events and is helping teach children and guardians about safe digital behaviour.
“Piper is quickly becoming a well-known and loved member of the community, recognized for both her important work and the comfort she brings,” Ottawa police said in a press release.
