Chelan County Regional Justice Center’s new drug-sniffing dog ready for work

WENATCHEE -- Rescue dog Kato has been given a second chance at life. The 3-year-old pup, adopted from the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society (WVHS), is now the Chelan County Regional Justice Center's (CCRJC) new narcotics-detection dog.

K9 Kato and his partner, Corrections Deputy Skyler Silsby, are graduating today from the Washington State Department of Corrections K9 program. Silsby underwent 200 hours of training over six weeks to become certified as a narcotics K9 handler, making him just the second corrections deputy at the county jail to achieve this distinction.

“After 25 years of serving the county in corrections, you know when you hire an individual who comes with the total package — positive attitude, enthusiasm, integrity, professionalism, respect, accountability, teamwork and the willingness to learn and work hard,” said Chris Sharp, director of the CCRJC. “When Deputy Silsby applied for the vacant K9 Unit position, I knew he would be a perfect fit. I do not doubt that our new K9 Team will be as successful as former Deputy Jacob Lewis and his two [canine] partners were.”

Silsby and Kato were matched in just the first few weeks of training. Kato, a black-and-tan German shepherd with some pretty distinctive ears, is trained to detect six odors: heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, and buprenorphine.

During training, Silsby, who was in a class of three K9 handlers, was impressed by how quickly the dogs learned new smells. “Trust the dog – first and foremost,” says Silsby. “Kato is super goofy, but he works really, really hard. He’s a rock star.”

The K9 program, run by the Department of Corrections (DOC), trains canines from local animal shelters for placement in law enforcement agencies, jails, and prisons throughout Washington State. A few months ago, Silsby learned that the trainer was at the WVHS. He then went online to find his future partner.

“I remember looking at the humane society page and seeing his picture,” Silsby said.

Kato has had at least two previous owners. He was adopted by an elderly couple last year and then returned to the shelter. Only about two weeks after being returned, the DOC noticed him and brought him to the training, where he quickly bonded with Silsby and demonstrated his abilities as a narcotics-detection dog.

It was WVHS Behavior Coordinator Jewelie Smith who identified Kato — first a stray with no history, then known unofficially as Kane at Jewelie’s suggestion — as a potential candidate for the training program. He’d come in with zero background information, possibly as a public drop-off when someone found him, and she started to see signs. But the older couple adopted him almost right away.

While a quick adoption is always ideal for the WVHS, Smith says she actually thought, “Darn! He would have made a great candidate for the K9 program.” But Kane proved too much for the older couple as such a large, strong breed of dog, and they had to make the difficult decision to bring him back. Immediately Smith enrolled him in the WVHS “Clever Canine” program, and had him searching for a ball just on a hunch that he’d be good at it. “I cued one time for him with a ball, and he found it on the first try,” she said.

That’s when she called Terry Hartman with the DOC K9 program. She’d gotten his contact information from an East Wenatchee police officer who’d just graduated with his own K9 companion, and Hartman and Kane hit it off immediately. Then it was on to meet Silsby.

“This is such a huge opportunity for this dog, who only a few months ago was sitting in the shelter, looking for a home,” Silsby said. “Kato is going to be serving his community.”

The Chelan County Regional Justice Center was one of the first county jails in the state to utilize a narcotics-detecting dog. Its Drug Interdiction Program began with K9 Kate, who passed away in 2024, and later K9 Gambit, who is now retired. Their handler was former Corrections Deputy Jacob Lewis, who left the jail this summer for a patrol position.

“Having a K9 drug detection team is absolutely the most solid piece of our Drug Interdiction Program,” Sharp said. “We are excited for Deputy Silsby and K9 Kato to begin working in our facility and assist the agency in not only finding drugs that enter our facility but also in saving lives.”

Both previous canines were border collies, so having a German shepherd in the jail will be a new experience for the team there. Kato isn't a very affectionate dog, but he's eager to work. When he realizes it's time to work, he starts to whine, pace, and bark, Silsby said.

“He waits for nobody when he’s working,” Silsby said. “He’s quick and methodical. I have to learn to pick up the pace when we’re working.”

Unlike the jail’s previous canines, who arrived with names, Silsby and his family chose Kato's new name. After graduation, Kato will go to the Silsby home to meet his new family, which includes two human siblings and two dog siblings.

Then on Monday, it's time to get to work.

“I’m excited to get him into the jail,” Silsby said. “I will be working to get Kato established at the jail and integrated into our day-to-day tasks. Once we do that, he and I will start integrating into the community and our local schools.”

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media