Staff Writer

One of Union County's newest employees loves animal crackers, doesn't like it when you get near her car and loves to tear up her toys.

She is Bella, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd/Belgium Malawa cross. The drug detection dog is assigned to Sgt. Roy Brackins at the Union County Detention Center. She was donated to Union County by a handler at South Carolina Department of Corrections K-9 unit. Bella lives with Brackins, his wife, Stephanie, and their three daughters - Morgan, 16; Taylor, 12; and Rebecca, 5.

“She's a good-natured dog, but she doesn't like anybody messing with her vehicle,” Brackins said, placing Bella in the back seat of the Ford Crown Victoria he drives. Bella immediately snarls at a person looking in the car window.

Bella does have a soft spot - she loves her dog food and she loves animal crackers.

“And I haven't found a toy she couldn't tear up,” Brackins said.

Brackins, who serves as the county's bloodhound handler, has had training in bloodhound handling and soon will receive additional training in Bella's handling. Brackins, a detention center officer for 12 years, said he will use Bella to help detect drugs at the detention center and he will be available if other law enforcement agencies in the county need the assistance of the dog.

Union County Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh said the county is fortunate, after a long search for a drug dog, to have one donated. He said the county had tried other venues to find a dog and was on a list with the office of 4th District Rep. Bob Inglis to receive a donated drug dog.

“We are also very fortunate to have a trained dog handler in Roy Brackins who is dedicated to protecting and serving the citizens of Union County,” Betenbaugh said. “We have been sending Roy to dog handling training over the last five years and he is well-respected by his fellow dog handlers across the state.”