Local K9 up for Hero Dog Award

STARKE, Fla. – There's about a week left in the first round of voting for the 2015 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards, and local K9 Fresca is a nominee.

David Young and K9 Fresca work with the Florida State Fire Marshal in Starke and are based out of Jacksonville.

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After being selected for the State Farm Arson Dog Program, K9 Fresca and Detective David Young completed four weeks of training in Maine. Fresca, a one and a half year old lab/half golden retriever mix, was certified as an accelerant detection canine on May 9, 2014.

Less than one week after graduating from arson dog training school, she investigated her first official arson fire on May 15, 2014.

In just nine months of service, Fresca has already completed 147 calls for service in the Jacksonville area. Of these calls, multiple arrests have been obtained and crucial evidence located in at least two homicides. Fresca has assisted in confirming multiple samples while on fire scenes.

When she isn't investigating suspicious fires, Fresca enjoys making appearances at community service events, including those for school children, families and students at Florida State Fire College. She has even given demonstrations to officials at the Governor's Office and inaugural events.

Fresca has participated in Firefighter Memorial events, Honor Guard events, and Florida State Fire College graduation ceremonies.

She may be young but she is already proving that she has an incredible drive to work and will be serving the people in the State of Florida for many years. 

To vote for Fresca, go to http://www.herodogawards.org/vote.php