Saskatchewan’s newest conservation officer in training is only 18 months old and is expected to graduate in four months … oh, and he walks on four legs and has a tail.

From wildfires to poachers and missing people – Saskatchewan’s newest K9 conservation officer will be sniffing out clues for emergencies and crimes across the province.

Courage, curiousity and a keen sense of smell — those are the qualities conservation officer Jamie Chartrand looks for in a potential new partner. He has found all of those in Jaks.

The 18-month-old Belgium Malinois dog started his initial four-month training course this week. He will learn how to find shell casings, firearms, drugs and how to track people who go missing or those who just don’t want to be found.

Chartrand makes up half of the only K9 conservation team in the province and right now he is training rookie Jaks as his next partner so Keela the German Shepherd can retire from duty.

Read the full story from CJME Newstalk 980