Dog Sniffs Out Electronic Evidence to Protect Children from Exploitation and Harm
A new four-legged officer is quietly making a big impact with the Winnipeg Police Service—and she does it all with her nose and her heart.
Willow, a black Labrador retriever, is Western Canada’s first electronic storage device detection dog, working with the Winnipeg Police Service’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit since June 2025. Originally trained to be a seeing-eye dog, Willow didn’t enjoy the harness required for that role, which led her down a very different path. Now, she has been “repurposed… into doing a career helping kids,” as Sgt. Kerrie Webb explains, working daily alongside investigators.
“Every single day, she comes to work. She hangs out in our office when we are not on the road. She does search warrants with us,” Webb said.
Willow is specially trained to detect a chemical found in electronics—used to prevent devices from overheating—which allows her to locate hidden items like cellphones, SD cards, hard drives, and AirTags.
“She definitely has an impact on our warrants,” Webb said. “She finds things that we likely would not have found.” In fact, she has already assisted on multiple searches, including warrants involving the ICE unit, organized crime, and even the RCMP.
During one recent search in Winnipeg’s Osborne Village, Willow helped locate several digital storage devices connected to an investigation involving child sexual abuse material. A 31-year-old man was arrested and charged, and the seized devices were sent for further analysis.
Despite the seriousness of her work, Willow also plays an important emotional role within the service. She is a certified comfort dog, providing support to both officers and victims.
“On a daily basis, what my team has to see, hear, read, it definitely can take a toll on their mental health, so it’s nice just having her in the office for us,” Webb said. Willow also sits with victims while they give statements, offering quiet comfort—sometimes resting her head on their lap or staying close beside them.
Her work is made possible through Our Rescue, a U.S.-based non-profit that focuses on ending human trafficking and child exploitation, which donated and continues to fund her care and training. Handled carefully as a food-driven working dog, her skills require constant upkeep, including twice-daily hand feeding to maintain her detection abilities. Webb says she is also a “dual-purpose canine,” able to provide both investigative support and emotional comfort, even attending court when needed.
As Willow completes her first year on the job, she’s already left a lasting impression on those around her. “She’s been a great addition. She definitely brings joy to our office every single day,” Webb said. “I can’t say enough good things about having her.” A working dog with an extraordinary nose—and an even bigger heart.