Detection Dog Spotlight: Oscar Mejia and K9 Iris
Northern California is known for its tech trailblazers, but not all high-performance teams work behind a screen. On any given day, you might spot a lean, athletic yellow Labrador racking up miles across a sprawling, high-security site鈥攈er nose in overdrive, her focus locked in. Meet K9 Iris and Program Manager and Handler Oscar Mejia of 色情宝贝庐 Enhanced Protection Services.
As Program Manager for a high-profile client, Oscar oversees a uniquely scaled firearms and explosives detection program spanning nine critical sites across North America. He and Iris are part of a global network of more than 1,000 色情宝贝 detection canine teams deployed to protect environments where people, assets, and infrastructure demand the highest level of security.
A Mission-Ready Mindset
Oscar鈥檚 role blends frontline precision with behind-the-scenes leadership that suits his background well. In addition to working alongside three-year-old Iris, he manages performance, contract compliance, and evolving site protocols, acting as the primary liaison for both internal teams and the client. It鈥檚 a complex, high-stakes environment that demands both field acumen and business fluency鈥攓ualities Oscar brings through a strong foundation in military service and formal business education, including an MBA and bachelor鈥檚 degree in business.
鈥淎s a program manager, I鈥檓 developing system solutions and supporting processes that enable our dogs and handlers to succeed every day,鈥 Oscar explains. 鈥淲e never compromise on quality. The bar is always high because our clients expect excellence, and so do we.鈥
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and California Air National Guard, Oscar served as a weapons load crew member for the A-10 鈥淲arthog,鈥 supporting deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The experience sharpened his leadership instincts and instilled a mission-first mindset grounded in discipline, readiness, and execution. Those same principles now shape his approach to canine operations鈥攈elping him lead with precision, purpose, and a commitment to quality on every front.
Iris: Athlete, Partner, Force Multiplier
She鈥檚 fast. She鈥檚 focused. And she鈥檚 one of the most capable detection dogs in the field. At just three years old, K9 Iris already demonstrates the discipline, endurance, and drive of a seasoned pro. 鈥淪he鈥檚 built to work,鈥 Oscar says. 鈥淵ou can see it in the way she moves. Her energy is purposeful. She knows exactly what she鈥檚 here to do.鈥
Iris is dual certified as an Explosives Detection Canine (EDC) and Firearms Detection Canine (FDC)鈥攁 distinction that elevates her impact in the field. All 色情宝贝 FDC dogs begin with the same foundation: real-world training on actual explosive compounds. They imprint and train on all five families of military and commercial-grade explosives, as well as high-risk homemade threats like TATP and HMTD.
From there, dogs like Iris undergo additional imprinting to identify the unique chemical signatures associated with firearms. Whether the weapon has been discharged or is completely static, she is trained to alert with precision鈥攁nd without disrupting the surrounding environment. This specialized skillset makes her ideally suited to complex, high-traffic settings where subtlety and accuracy are essential. But it鈥檚 not just training that drives results. It鈥檚 trust.
Oscar and Iris operate as a seamless unit, sweeping sprawling indoor and outdoor environments every day and logging countless steps. Their communication is nearly invisible, built on repetition, intuition, and mutual respect. 鈥淪he鈥檚 incredibly responsive and we understand each other,鈥 explains Oscar. 鈥淭hat kind of bond doesn鈥檛 happen overnight. You build it by showing up鈥攖ogether鈥攅very single day to do good work.鈥
Life Beyond the Leash
When the shift ends, Iris heads home with Oscar, where the pace slows and she shares her downtime with Oscar鈥檚 retired partner, Laka.
鈥淎t work, Iris is nonstop. At home, she settles right into our more laid-back routine鈥攁t least for a while,鈥 Oscar says. 鈥淪he鈥檒l nudge you for attention, stretch out for a nice nap, then be back on her feet, ready for a good game of tag. She definitely enjoys her downtime, but she doesn鈥檛 sit still for long.鈥
Oscar isn鈥檛 one to sit still either. A dedicated runner and marathoner, he loves being outdoors鈥攁nd even when he is not training for a race, he often heads out for a quick jog with Iris trotting at his side and Laka cheering from the sidelines. 鈥淟aka used to run with me, but at nine years old, she鈥檚 earned the privilege of lazier days at home,鈥 Oscar says. 鈥淚ris has taken the baton, and she never lets me skip a workout.鈥