Local rescue dog finds new role at Chelan County Regional Justice Center
- Nic Scott
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A 3-year-old rescue from the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society is the new narcotics-detection dog with the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.
K9 Kato and his partner, Corrections Deputy Skyler Silsby, graduated Wednesday from the Washington State Department of Corrections K9 program. Silsby completed 200 hours of training over six weeks to become certified as a narcotics K9 handler; he’s only the second corrections deputy to earn the distinction at the county jail.
“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 Chelan County Regional Justice Center. “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 partners were.”
Silsby and Kato were paired within the first weeks of training. A black-and-tan German shepherd with distinctive ears, Kato is trained to detect six odors: heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana and buprenorphine.
During training, he was impressed with the speed at which the dogs picked up and learned odors, said Silsby, who was in a class of three K9 handlers. Among the things he learned is to “trust the dog – first and foremost,” he said.
The DOC program that trains law enforcement canines for placement in agencies, jails and prisons around the state seeks out rescues from local animal shelters. When Silsby heard a few months ago the trainer was at the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, he went online to see if he could spot his future partner.
One of the first county jails in the state to use a narcotics-detecting dog, the Chelan County Regional Justice Center’s Drug Interdiction Program was started 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 a German shepherd in the jail will be new to the team there.
“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 past canines, who came already named, Silsby and his family chose Kato’s name. After graduation, Kato is headed 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.”
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