STEELE ADDS WEAPON IN WAR ON DRUGS

Residents' gifts give town cash for special dog

STEELE- Residents are dropping by Steele's Town Hall a lot more often than
they used to these days to visit one of their civic investments.

Anook, a female German shepherd drug dog bought with donations from school
children, citizens and businesses, sits tethered outside Patrolman Charles
Simmons' office most days. Kids and adults come by to give her a friendly
pat on the head.

Steele is a small town of about 1,300 near Chandler Mountain that has a few
domestic disputes and some burglaries, but no major crime problem, according
to Steele Police Chief Jimmy Morris.

But Morris said the community's investment of $6,000 toward the purchase of
the dog and her certification was worth the effort.

"The dog's quality as a deterrent has already paid off ... If it helps push
young people away from drugs, then it's worth it," he said.

"People are aware of what we have now, and that goes a long way in helping
us do our job in the county."

Inseparable

Simmons, who had the idea to bring Anook to Steele and with whom she lives,
said he and the dog have been inseparable for the past six months. He keeps
a framed photo of the dog and himself on his office desk.

"She lives with me all day, every day. She has great indoor traits and is
only aggressive when someone tries to hurt me. She sleeps in the room with
me, sometimes in a portable kennel," he said.

Simmons admits that having complete care of Anook is like having an
additional member of the family. "They told me in training school that it
would be just like having another child to take care of. And, they were
right."

Simmons also has another German shepherd, Max, and he says the two dogs get
along well. Max is 4 years old and Anook is very active, and bigger. Now,
Max just ignores his new friend when she wants to romp and run a lot. She
tires him out.

"She tires me out sometimes, too," Simmons admitted.

>From Belgium

The spunky shepherd was brought over from Belgium, where she was spotted in
a drug dog competition by St. Clair County trainers and dog experts at
Canine Concepts.

Simmons and Anook were introduced and spent four weeks together in intensive
training at the St. Clair County training facility.

Trained to detect cocaine, heroin, crystal methamphetamine and other drugs,
Anook can detect the odor of a drug sealed air-tight in a steel canister,
Simmons said. "It's unbelievable how sensitive they are."

While in school, Anook was trained to hunt her favorite toy, saturated with
the odor of drugs.

"Now when the blue light goes on in the police car, she goes crazy wanting
to get out and find her toy," he said.