Pubdate: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 2013 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198 Page: A3 USE OF POLICE DOGS PUT ON LEASH Miami-Dade police detectives conducted an unlawful search then they used a drug-sniffing dog at the front door of a suspected marijuana grow house without getting a search warrant, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. Civil libertarians and defense lawyers hailed the decision, which curbs the use of police dogs in front of homes. "It sends a message to police that when you're talking about doing a search on a home, you generally need a warrant before you invade privacy rights," said MiamiDade Assistant Public Defender Howard Blumberg, who represented the Miami man at the center of the case. Florida law enforcement officials fear the ruling will lead to a further proliferation of hydroponic marijuana labs. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt