Leaf, a cadaver dog, signals that she has found the scent of human remains by lying down. On Monday, she did so 38 times at Marion's Royal Oak Cemetery, helping locate unmarked graves.
SPorter
Cal Corona and Leaf display a strong bond and joy when working together.
SPorter
Leaf is a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, a breed with a strong work drive.
SPorter
Before the search began on Monday, Charlie Barnette, Cal Corona, and Nina Cipriani, another dog handler, assessed Royal Oak Cemetery and developed an approach for the day's work.
SPorter
Leaf and her handler, Cal Corona, have traveled across much of the U.S. and to Canada undertaking searches.
Stephanie Porter-Nichols/Smyth County News & Messenger
Leaf wore a GPS that allowed her handler to mark the location of each site she detected.
Stephanie Porter-Nichols/Smyth County News & Messenger
Flags were used to mark each site where Leaf signaled that human remains could be buried.
Cal Corona stands still, straddling Leaf, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois. Corona watches Leaf’s nose to determine when she’s focused and ready. Then, he gives her the command to search. Leaf isn’t searching for drugs or explosives. She’s searching the ground and air for the scent of human remains.
Leaf, a cadaver dog, signals that she has found the scent of human remains by lying down. On Monday, she did so 38 times at Marion's Royal Oak Cemetery, helping locate unmarked graves.
Before the search began on Monday, Charlie Barnette, Cal Corona, and Nina Cipriani, another dog handler, assessed Royal Oak Cemetery and developed an approach for the day's work.
