Kagoshima Prefectural Police’s rookie police dog “Walt vom Nebel Dorf” (1 year and 3 months) has already made a name for himself.
In his very first mission in Ibusuki City, Walt located an 80-year-old man within just four minutes. The following month in Kirishima City, he found a 90-year-old woman in one hour and twenty minutes. For two consecutive months, Walt was commended for his achievements — with sweet potatoes as his special reward.
- 🐕 Who is “Walt”?
- 🏆 Achievement #1: The “4-Minute Miracle” (July, Ibusuki City)
- 🏆 Achievement #2: Found on the Third Day (August, Kirishima City)
- 🎁 Why Sweet Potatoes?
- 🔍 How Japan’s Police Dog System Works
- 🐾 The Handler’s Perspective
- 📊 Police Dog Deployments in Kagoshima
- 🌟 Conclusion: Kagoshima’s “Hero with a Nose”
- 📌 Sources
- 📚 More Fascinating Animal Stories
🐕 Who is “Walt”?
- Full name: Walt vom Nebel Dorf
- Breed: German Shepherd
- Sex: Male
- Age: 1 year and 3 months (as of August 2025)
- Unit: Kagoshima Prefectural Police, Forensics Division, Police Dog Section
- Handler: Akimitsu Fukudome (62)
警察犬ウォルト・フォム・ネーベル・ドルフ号（シェパード・雄１歳３カ月）
Assigned in March 2025, Walt is still considered a “rookie” just out of training. Described as “playful and restless,” his handler nonetheless praises him: “His sense of smell is exceptionally strong.”
🏆 Achievement #1: The “4-Minute Miracle” (July, Ibusuki City)
In early July 2025, an 80-year-old man went missing in Ibusuki City. Despite a 50-person search team working for five and a half hours, he could not be found.
Then Walt was deployed for his debut mission. Given a scent sample, he immediately charged into the mountains and, within four minutes, located the man collapsed near a cliff.
The man was weakened but conscious, and his life was saved thanks to Walt’s speed. For his achievement, Walt received a commendation — and 10 kilograms of his favorite snack, sweet potatoes.
Handler Fukudome commented:
“I think he must have been delighted with the sweet potatoes. I hope he continues to grow as a police dog who serves the people of Kagoshima.”
🏆 Achievement #2: Found on the Third Day (August, Kirishima City)
In early August, a 90-year-old woman went missing from her home in Kirishima City. About 60 police and fire personnel searched for two days with no results.
On the third day, Walt was called in. Following the scent trail, he discovered the woman sitting on a mountain slope about 1.5 km from her home — just one hour and twenty minutes after deployment. She was rescued without life-threatening injuries.
For this, Walt was commended by Kirishima Police and received 5 kilograms of sweet potatoes. In front of the press, he playfully licked his handler’s face, winning hearts as Kagoshima’s “adorable hero.”
🎁 Why Sweet Potatoes?
Many wondered: why sweet potatoes as a reward?
副賞のサツマイモをもらってうれしそうに福留明光さんをペロペロするウォルト号
Sweet potatoes are highly palatable for dogs and contain dietary fiber and vitamins, making them a popular and healthy treat when given in moderation.
Police officials explained: “The reward boosts his motivation and serves as encouragement for future missions.”
🔍 How Japan’s Police Dog System Works
In Japan, there are two types of police dogs:
- Directly managed police dogs: Owned and trained by the police headquarters.
- Commissioned police dogs: Owned and trained by civilians, but dispatched under police request.
Kagoshima Prefectural Police maintains several directly managed dogs, and Walt is the youngest among them. His strengths are his youthful energy and strong focus — already proving himself with two life-saving rescues in just two months.
🐾 The Handler’s Perspective
Fukudome reflects:
“He’s still only one year and three months old and lacks composure, but his ability is outstanding. I hope he continues his training and becomes a protector of the people’s safety.”
While police dogs bear the heavy responsibility of saving lives, Walt’s playful behavior in front of cameras also brought smiles to the community.
📊 Police Dog Deployments in Kagoshima
- January–July 2025: 42 deployments of directly managed police dogs
- Missions included searching for missing persons and tracking at crime scenes
- Walt’s consecutive successes stand out as exceptionally rare for a rookie
🌟 Conclusion: Kagoshima’s “Hero with a Nose”
In just two months, Walt has rescued two missing persons, succeeding where even 60 human searchers could not. His achievements earned him the title of “Kagoshima’s Hero Dog.”
With sweet potatoes as his reward, expectations for Walt’s future are only growing. Both his skills and charm are winning attention nationwide.
📌 Sources
- Minami-Nippon Shimbun Digital (Aug 29, 2025)
- MBC Minami-Nippon Broadcasting (Sep 2, 2025)
- FNN Prime Online, Kagoshima TV (Aug 5, 2025)
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