Meet Browser: The crime fighting K9 who sniffs out child porn

In Lake County, there's a new tool investigators have for finding hidden child porn: Browser - the crime fighting K9.

Browser is a year-and-a-half-old Labrador trained to sniff out the unique lengths criminals are going to hide child pornography.

“We were seeing a trend where people were downloading child porn, but then hiding those images on thumb drives or removable devices in their house,” said state’s attorney Mike Nerheim.

Nerheim heard about electronic sniffing dogs like Browser after one like him was used in the Jared Fogle child pornography case. He's trained to detect a chemical that's baked onto electronics that end up in phones, iPads, cameras -- anything used to store disturbing instances of child exploitation.

Once investigators give a place a once-over, Browser goes in to smell what the eye couldn't see.

“In the hamper, underneath all the clothes at the bottom was a slipper. Hidden in the slipper was a tiny SD card. Browser knew it. We may have missed that,” said Browser’s handler, Carol Gudbrandsen.

Carol works with Browser twice a day, mixing up the environments where they train. Their work as partners has paid off. In just five months, Browser has helped build a dozen criminal cases, but his job is twofold.

“Carol has a tough job where she literally sits in this room most days and views images that are pretty graphic,” Nerheim said.

Browser's there to offer a paw -- or a break -- from grueling detective work.

“It's awesome to have Browser remind me what's good in the world,” Carol said.

Browser also tags along on school visits and Carol says it's amazing how she can command kid's attention when she brings her four legged friend along.