Wilmington Police seek vacant buildings for K-9 training

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department is asking the community for help finding spaces where its K-9 teams can train.

In a message shared with the public, police said they are looking for vacant or unused buildings that could be used for search and detection training for the department’s K-9 units.

Officials say large indoor spaces with multiple rooms, shelves, or hiding spots provide realistic environments for dogs training to locate missing people or detect narcotics.

Police say ideal locations could include vacant warehouses or industrial spaces, unused office or commercial buildings, construction sites, or properties scheduled for demolition.

“These environments are paws-down perfect for building search training or narcotics detection drills,” the department said, noting that varied and real-world settings help keep K-9 teams sharp.

Property owners or managers who are interested in allowing the department to use a space for training are encouraged to contact the Wilmington Police Department through this link.