LEWISBURG — Justus, Heidi and Iro have a sweet new ride.
The three are dogs with the Union County Sheriff Department’s K-9 Response Team. They received their 2007 Dodge Durango thanks, in large part, to a donation by BZ Motors.
On Wednesday, Roger Aikey, president and CEO of BZ Motors, turned the keys to the vehicle over to Union County Sheriff John Schrawder and Chief Deputy Ernie Ritter.
While the majority of the funding for the vehicle was provided by the car dealership, Schrawder said the Union County commissioners also chipped in money to purchase the automobile.
The sheriff declined to expand on the amount the county provided to secure the vehicle and county officials were unavailable prior to press time. 
This is the second vehicle BZ has presented to the K-9 unit. Aikey said the first, which was donated in 2002, racked up a lot of miles and was due to be replaced.
Ritter added the SUV is custom made to accommodate the sheriff’s department.
“It’s set up to transport the K-9s to calls. We can also transport high-risk prisoners in it,” he noted.
Ritter said the Durango is equipped with interior heat monitors to keep the vehicle at a safe temperature for the dogs.
The chief deputy added he travels the state with the dogs to aid other law enforcement agencies. Any county in need of assistance, that doesn’t have access to a dog, can ask Ritter to respond with one of his four-legged partners.
“I travel as far away as Wellsboro for explosive detection,” he said. “There’s not a lot of explosive dogs in this area.”
Schrawder said his department formed its K-9 unit in 2000 due to a spike in bomb threats.
Ritter noted the number of calls he responds to can vary widely from month to month.
“I’ve had three bomb calls in one day, and I’ve gone a month without one,” he said.
Ritter works hand-in-hand with the dogs.
“We’re a team; we have to certify every year together as a team,” he said.
The chief deputy said he trains weekly with the dogs. In addition, they attend special training sessions twice a month in Carlisle.
Ritter said Justus and Iro are trained in explosive detection and criminal apprehension. Heidi is a narcotics dog.
He also noted that Iro is now 11-years-old and will soon be retiring. Justus has been brought on board as Iro’s replacement.
“As long as Iro can keep coming to the office, I’ll keep bringing him in because he loves it,” Ritter said.
After he retires, Iro will continue living with Ritter.
“We have a really strong bond,” said Ritter.

Kevin Mertz: 570-742-9671
kevin@standard-journal.com