May 17, 2011
Our city council will not OK the use of a narcotics detection dog that has gone through training. Can you give us some ideas on how to solve this problem?
Full Question:
We have a New Hope Borough officer who has been in K-9 training in Bucks County, PA for drug detection. The program is reimbursed by the County (drug forfeiture funds). The dog completed his training, and goes for monthly refresher courses.Our borough Council has yet to approve the dog for active drug detection, citing that they have found that there can be serious "liability problems" with having a K-9 program. No further explanation is given.
There are many citizens who feel that a K-9 program would be a great asset in this resort town, since there have been several recent deaths among young people in the area - directly related to drugs.
What is your opinion of "liability problems," or do you have any reference material relating to liability?
THANK YOU!
Janine
Ed's Answer:
If a dog and handler are properly trained there is zero liability to a narcotics K9 program. What liability can there be to a non-biting dog? This is drug work not bite work.
If the dog is trained in handler protection, then you had better make sure the training is good and the dog is under control at all times. It should be able to do RECALLS under heavy distraction (in front of a helper that is stimulating the dog). If it can do this you need to do a demonstration for the council to show the control of the dog. There is almost no liability to a well run K-9 program.
The council needs to understand that a patrol dog is only going to be used in felony situations.
The bottom line is that if your handler had the correct training you would not be asking me these questions because the people training him would know how to approach this problem. So your program is already flawed. This comes under the category of BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU ASK FOR – IT MAY COME TRUE! If you start this program with poor training it will fail and I guess the council is then right.
If the dog is trained in handler protection, then you had better make sure the training is good and the dog is under control at all times. It should be able to do RECALLS under heavy distraction (in front of a helper that is stimulating the dog). If it can do this you need to do a demonstration for the council to show the control of the dog. There is almost no liability to a well run K-9 program.
The council needs to understand that a patrol dog is only going to be used in felony situations.
The bottom line is that if your handler had the correct training you would not be asking me these questions because the people training him would know how to approach this problem. So your program is already flawed. This comes under the category of BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU ASK FOR – IT MAY COME TRUE! If you start this program with poor training it will fail and I guess the council is then right.
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