Pubdate: Tue, 22 May 2007
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2007 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribunecompany.com/143
Website: http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: David La Vaque, Star Tribune
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS ARE VISIBLE EFFORT TO KEEP SCHOOLS
CLEAN

In An Effort To Deter Students From Bringing Illegal Drugs To School,
Several West-Metro High Schools Have Been Working With A Company That
Provides Drug-Sniffing Dogs

Whether it is Charlie sniffing his way past rows of  hallway lockers,
Andie checking out cars on the street  or Tosca canvassing the parking
lots, the dogs of Metro  Canine Detection Services all work in the
spirit of  drug prevention.

John Roux's Eagan-based company provides dog searches  aimed at
detecting and deterring illegal narcotics at  businesses, private
homes and schools. He currently  conducts searches at 15 metro-area
schools, including  St. Louis Park, Benilde-St. Margaret's and
Mound-Westonka high schools.

While school administrators said it's impossible to  keep every
student from using drugs, they are committed  to keeping drugs off
campus.

"We want to create a culture where kids can be  supported to be
chemically free," said Jeff Ferguson,  associate dean of students at
Totino-Grace. "We know  we're not going to bat a thousand, but we're
making a  dent."

A former counselor at a treatment center, Roux coupled  that
experience with his knowledge of training hunting  dogs to form his
company in 2002.

His three Belgian Malinois can detect the scent of  cocaine, heroin,
methamphetamine and marijuana. In  addition, females Andie and Tosca
can detect gunpowder.  All three dogs receive weekly maintenance
training and  annual certification by a training school in Texas.

Roux's random monthly or bimonthly searches can include  parking lots,
streets near the school where students  park their cars, classrooms,
hallway lockers, locker  rooms and bathrooms. He has conducted some
in-school  demonstrations and allowed students to meet the dogs.  He
does not want students feeling threatened by the  dogs' presence.

"When I'm in the hallways, a lot of times kids come up  and say hi to
the dog," he said. "I was in the parking  lot working last winter and
someone came up and thanked  me for helping keep the school safe. It's
very  rewarding."

When his dogs detect the scent of drugs or gunpowder,  they signal by
sitting down. Roux leaves the process of  searching lockers or cars to
school administrators.  Marijuana is the drug most often found, though
  methamphetamine has been found three times and a  residual amount of
cocaine was found once.  Administrators at Brooklyn Center, North St.
Paul,  Totino-Grace and White Bear Area Learning Center said  only
marijuana has been found at their schools.

Gunpowder has been detected in vehicles, but guns were  never found.
In two cases, the dogs picked up a scent  left by hunting rifles. The
students had used their  vehicles on recent hunting trips with their
fathers.

Administrators said they initiated contact with Metro  Canine
Detection Services to be proactive rather than  reactive. They said
the dogs have been an effective  deterrent to students bringing drugs
on campus, though  it is difficult to quantify the effect.

Feedback from student evaluations at Totino-Grace  reflect a generally
positive attitude about the  program.

Kirsten Dawson, the Chemical Health Counselor at  Totino-Grace and
Cretin-Derham Hall, said incidents  where students report other
students for coming to  school high have declined.

"How we present our campuses to young kids is a  concern," she said.
"We don't want their first exposure  to drugs to be in the bathroom at
our schools."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath