Exciting cases

Carinthian animal searchers as “dog detectives” on TV

The television team accompanied three cases live.(Bild: K9 Pro/RTL)

The work of the Carinthian and Europe-wide K9 Pro animal searchers can now be followed on TV. When a pet goes missing, the owners are in agony. The specially trained sniffer noses and consultants are then on the spot.

She has been working with her sniffer noses for 25 years and is the head of the Europe-wide K9-Pro team. Alexandra Grunow (52) from Carinthia has been training search dog handlers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia for years and the "K9-Pro Missing Persons Search" association has also existed in Carinthia since 2021. In 2023 alone, the animal searchers in Carinthia had to deal with 133 cases, of which only five remained open.

In 128 cases, either the specially trained sleuths or the consultants were able to bring the beloved pets home using tactical methods. The successes and the many years of cooperation with the police in Germany - where Grunow also works with the forensics department - brought RTL onto the scene and on Sunday the premiere of the program "Die Hundedetektive" flickered across the screens.

The search in the field is strenuous.(Bild: K9Pro/RTL)

The human animal searchers have to be fit.(Bild: K9 Pro/RTL)

Alexandra Grunow is usually accompanied by Sabine Sonnleitner.(Bild: K9Pro/RTL)

Sabine Sonnleitner (left) is a professional sportswoman and masters even the longest distances.(Bild: K9Pro/RTL)

She works with the individual scent of the missing animal.(Bild: K9Pro/RTL)

Three exciting cases
Numerous Carinthian animal lovers were thrilled by the three cases, which were accompanied live by the TV team, because "when a beloved pet disappears, the owners are in agony", emphasizes Grunow. This makes the moments when the animal searchers are able to bring home a beloved pet that has been missing for days or weeks all the more poignant.

Sabine Sonnleitner, Alexandra Grunow and a colleague from Germany, Nicola Rothacker.(Bild: K9Pro/RTL)

First case from the Lavant Valley
For example, the case of the pug "Bella", who ran away in the Lavant Valley - the "Krone" had reported in October 2023 - was shown, who hid in the forest for days and was only brought to a happy end thanks to the efforts of Alexandra Grunow, Sabine Sonnleitner, search dog "Tao" and Nicola Rothacker from Germany.

There is always great joy when a beloved pet can be returned.(Bild: K9 Pro/RTL)

Mixed-breed dog Tommy was also rescued weeks later. The owners were relieved.(Bild: K9 Pro/RTL)

K9-Pro has search dog teams all over Europe.(Bild: K9 Pro/RTL)

Case in the north of Germany
Mixed-breed dog "Tommy" had also been missing for weeks in northern Germany. He was staying near a riding stables and was being fed by a horse owner. However, she was unable to catch him. K9-Pro was therefore asked for help and the already seriously injured dog was finally secured with a trap.

Hunter had a heart for Zeus
In the third case, a young Rottweiler named Zeus went missing, having escaped by accident while out for a walk. The owners were very worried as they feared that a hunter would shoot him. Here too, Grunow and her team were able to raise awareness among the public, authorities and hunters, and Zeus was eventually secured by the hunter and handed over to K9-Pro. "The hunter was so moved by the dog's nature that he turned a blind eye," said Grunow with relief.

Pictures of happy finds.(Bild: K-9 Pro)

Uli and Campino (left) and Gabi and Goja (right) are also part of the K9 Pro team.(Bild: K9-Pro Tiersuche)

Alexandra Grunow's "K9 Pro" team is specialized in animal searches and operates throughout Europe. Whenever a beloved pet goes missing, the tracker noses and consultants are there to help. The teams' expertise is based on Grunow's 20 years of experience and cooperation with scientists, animal educators and vets. The huge animal search network now has around 60 bases in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and several other European countries.

Further programs planned
We can look forward to further episodes of "Dog Detectives" in the future. There have already been six new cases in the new year alone, all with happy endings. Seven dogs and one cat were rescued in Carinthia alone. In five weeks alone, Alexandra Grunow has been on duty 19 times since mid-January, also searching for missing people.