Stray dog saved from death row becomes detective, sniffing out lost pets

When Rachel Rodgers spotted a photo of a skinny black-and-tan dog facing euthanasia in a Portuguese pound, she decided to act. She paid nearly $200 to pull the animal out of the shelter and brought him back to England—a choice that would turn a near-death stray into a remarkable scent-detecting partner in animal rescues.

Now called Rico, the little Kokoni has become a go-to tracker for lost pets and escaped zoo animals. His keen nose and patient drive have helped reunite owners with their animals time and again, and his story is reshaping how trainers use dogs to find missing pets.

From Pound Rescue to Professional Tracker: How Rico’s Second Chance Began

Rachel, a dog trainer and co-founder of The Canine School of Trailing, first brought Rico home in December 2015 after learning he had days left at the shelter in Portugal. What started as a rescue mission quickly revealed an extraordinary talent: Rico seemed born to follow faint scents and pinpoint where animals had been.

Rather than formal police work, Rico’s training has focused on practical scent work for everyday pet owners and rescue teams. He became especially adept at locating animals that had bolted from gardens, kennels, or enclosures, even when trails were hours old.

How Rico Tracks Lost Animals: The Scent Techniques That Work

Rico’s handlers use simple scent articles to kick-start searches. Typical items include:

• Blankets or chew toys taken from the missing animal
• Clothing or fabric that’s been in contact with the pet
• Occasionally, fecal samples when no fresh scent is available

Given one of these scent articles, Rico systematically narrows down the area, sniffing and signaling where a trail leads. In some rescues he spent hours working the same patch of ground until the keeper or owner was able to recover the animal.

Notable Finds: Dogs, Tortoises, and Even a Capybara

Rico has been involved in more than 20 successful recoveries, from missing household dogs to more unusual cases. A few standout incidents include:

• A family dog that had slipped out of a vehicle and was later found exiting a yard at the exact spot Rico repeatedly indicated.
• Requests to locate small exotic pets such as tortoises—showing how scent work applies beyond canines.
• A high-profile search for Cinnamon, a capybara that escaped from a zoo. With little fresh scent available, keepers supplied droppings from Cinnamon’s group so Rico could match odor profiles. He guided searchers to a field and a ditch where signs of the animal were found; a trap set nearby led to Cinnamon’s capture a day or two later.

Rico’s persistence in difficult environments—fields, fences, and crowded urban spaces—has been crucial to these outcomes.

Training Methods and Everyday Applications for Pet Owners

Rachel uses games and positive reinforcement to channel Rico’s natural instincts. Sessions often resemble hide-and-seek: the dog is given a scent article, then asked to locate where the scent leads. This playful approach builds confidence while teaching clear search behaviors.

What owners can expect from scent-trained dogs

• Improved odds of finding a missing pet quickly
• Reduced guesswork during searches—dogs point to specific areas rather than general direction
• Ability to work in different terrains and weather conditions

Rachel and her school now teach this style of trailing to other trainers around the world, so more owners can access scent-trained search dogs. The work is practical and scalable: simple scent articles, patient search techniques, and clear communication between handler and dog.

From Rescue to Mentor: Rico’s Role in the Training Community

As Rico’s reputation grew, he shifted from being just a rescued pet to a teaching dog on live searches and in training classrooms. He helps demonstrate how to read a dog’s body language when following a scent, how to interpret pauses and returns to scent articles, and how to maintain focus during long searches.

Rico has also inspired a new generation of scent dogs: Rachel is grooming a young border terrier named Pebbles to take up the mantle when Rico eventually steps back from active searching. The goal is continuity—ensuring the skills Rico demonstrated continue to help owners reunite with lost animals.

Why Scent Work Matters for Pet Recovery and Animal Welfare

Scent-trained dogs offer a targeted search tool that complements community searches, posters, and social media alerts. When a trained dog is available, owners can often narrow down search areas quickly, conserving resources and reducing stress for both humans and animals involved.

Beyond individual reunions, these skills also support local rescues, wildlife centers, and zoos during escape events, highlighting a growing niche in animal recovery work that blends compassion with science.

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Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is an experienced journalist covering U.S. and global news. With ten years on the front lines, he breaks down political and economic stories that matter. His precise writing and keen attention to detail help you grasp the real‑world impact of every event.