i have gotten some great feedback from EVERYONE, even the ones that think i have attitude. believe me it IS APPRECIATED!...now another request. if anyone has stats, cases, photos or other examples that i can use please notify me via kband635@yahoo.com and i will send an address. thanks for everyones help..i get more support from you than i get from some people in my dept. thanks again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

QUOTE: stats, cases, photos END

About.............???

Do you mean about the usefulness of a department dog, or leasing over buying, or how much other departments pay, or what?

You were specifically discussing drug dogs, right?

Part of my job involves research, but this is a very vague request! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

OK, I have to comment. If you want to start a K9 program. Learn about K9. Find a team to work with, see what works and what doesn't work. Learn what a great dog looks like and what a half-ass dog looks like. Get a dog, any dog and train it to do something, just for the experience. Work with a schutzhund club, that's where the dog trainers are, not at K9 training. To have a K9 Unit you have to have a K9 Handler. That may not be you. Before undertaking a project like a new unit and you want to be the handler YOU must educate YOU.Learn how to handle a leash, how to put on a choke collar, how to work a pinch. I have often said that there are lots of "Cops with Dogs" but very few "K9 Handlers". Sure the girls like to look at the K9 Unit, but after a time you discover that the dog behind you in that car stinks, sheds, shits, pisses, barks,whines and slobbers 7 days a week, 365 days a year...and you are the only one there to enjoy it. K9 takes commitment. If you really want to be a K9 handler you'll find a way with or without department funding. Right Kevin? Right Ed?
RD