Two Harbors DNR station welcomes new K9 conservation officer

Working dogs are charged with many tasks, from medical service dogs to assisting law enforcement. One group of dogs in Minnesota does something unique: environmental protection.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has a K9 unit of eight dog and handler teams. The north shore recently welcomed one of those teams, as Conservation Officer Cassie Block and her K9 partner, Jet, joined the Two Harbors MN DNR station at the end of June. Block told WTIP she only began working with Jet earlier this year, but he has been a K9 officer for about three years at the Willmar station.

Block and Jet, along with three other CO and K9 teams, earned their detection certification in May, according to the MN DNR, bringing the total teams up to eight, from the previous four. The K9 unit is spread out across the state, with teams located in Worthington, Rochester, Detroit Lakes, Mora, Montevideo, Deer River, the Twin Cities Metro, and Two Harbors. Each of the DNR K9s lives with their human partner.

CO Cassie Block and K9 Jet

The DNR’s K9 are trained in some of the same things that law enforcement dogs are trained in, like evidence detection and tracking. Block said some of the DNR dogs participate in apprehension efforts, though Jet is not one of those dogs. She added that while there is some overlap in the work of law enforcement dogs and DNR dogs, one major difference is that instead of being trained to detect narcotics, the dogs working with COs are trained to help detect invasive species and game.

Jet, along with the other DNR dogs, are trained to detect zebra mussels, and invasive species threatening the Great Lakes and their watershed. Block said she and Jet may team up with Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspectors to help find zebra mussels that have attached to someone’s boat. Block described working with a K9 partner in this capacity as having “an incredible tool.”

Block also explained that the DNR dogs are sometimes also called upon to assist other agencies with operations like finding missing persons or evidence detection. Mostly, though, the DNR dogs are part of the effort to protect the environment.

“Jet has been a great tool for education and outreach, and he’s just been a great partner to have,” Block said. “So we’re looking forward to working up here on the North Shore”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Conservation Officer Cassie Block about K9 Jet. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski July 8, 2025