SOUTH CAROLINA KENNEL GIVES PELHAM DRUG DOG

Pelham has a new crime fighter on the streets - Kane, a cane corso,
more simply described as a big, black dog.

For the first time in the Police Department's history, the city has
established a K-9 unit to help fight drugs and assist in other
searches, said Capt. Tommy Thomas.

Pelham's narcotics unit has obtained 239 warrants this year and worked
11 trafficking cases as detectives continue to move in on the illegal
sale and use of drugs. Pharmaceutical drug cases have especially kept
them busy, according to police reports.

Kane, a 2-year-old from the Fallen Rock Kennel in South Carolina, can
help the situation immediately, said Officer Jim Ranson, the dog's
trainer.

"He does the work of 10 people," Ranson said. "How many police
officers can walk up to a car and say there is dope in there? They are
restricted from searching without permission or probable cause. Kane
can sniff around the outside of the car without violating someone's
rights."

A whiff of numerous drugs, including pharmaceutical pain killers, will
send the dog into action - or, rather, inaction. Instead of scratching
and barking, as some drug dogs do, Kane has been taught to sit without
budging when he picks up one of the scents he's trained to detect.

That approach is popular with police departments that don't want
lawsuits over scratched-up cars, Ranson said.

Pelham has wanted a K-9 unit for a few years and recently was
presented with an offer it could not turn down, Thomas said.

The Shelby County Coalition For Safe and Drug Free Communities found a
kennel in South Carolina that wanted to donate drug dogs to law
enforcement agencies.

Coalition members sent a letter to all Shelby County police
departments to see if there was any interest, said Katrina Brown, drug
prevention coordinator for the coalition.

The organization strongly believes that K-9 units are effective in
schools, Brown said.