DRUG-SNIFFING DOG DEMONSTRATES HIS ABILITIES TO STUDENTS

There were three choices but the decision relied heavily on the power
of one slightly moist nose.

The Bellaire Elementary School cafeteria was brimming with earnest
students as they waited for a charming chocolate Labrador named Drago
to sniff out where a cleverly concealed container of pills were hidden
Monday. It was a morning demonstration that kicked off the school's
observance of a district-wide Safety Week, which is packed with fun
and informative safety activities that will cover a wide range of
important precautions.

"Safety is the most important area in our district," said Leslie
Gilmore, Killeen Independant School District's public information
officer. "It is important for students and staff to feel safe when
they come to school and work. The school board has designated school
safety as a critical element in our district's overall plans and goals."

Drago cleared two backpacks with a few quick sniffs but after briefly
perusing a black purse, he took a seat, signifying his choice and
11-year-old Donovan Ruiz couldn't be more impressed.

"I have a dog just like him but his name is Cocoa and I wish he could
do what Drago can do," said Ruiz. "I've never seen a dog do that
except on TV shows. Dogs like Drago are important because if they
didn't exist people could smuggle drugs into schools and give them to
kids and that's not good."

It is a problem that canine handler Robin Beherec and her husband are
trying to combat with the help of their four-legged friends. The
couple runs the Waco branch of Interquest Detection Canines. Beherec
said that sometimes it's hard to maintain just a professional
relationship with her friendly, furry co-workers.

"They smell a thousand times better than we do, so the idea behind it
is to use the best of what the animal and what a person can do and put
the two together," said Beherec, who noted that Drago can sniff out
illegal substances, alcoholic beverages, weapons and gunpowder. "If
they see one of our dogs working at a middle school, we don't want the
children to be frightened. Drago is here to help and not to hurt
anyone. We want to keep schools clean so that kids can learn but we
don't want it to disturb their learning process."

After the show, the line leading out of the cafeteria slowed to a
leisurely procession as each child took a moment to give Drago an
appreciative pat on the head before they made their way back to class.
It was the end of a learning experience that not only introduced the
students to a drug dog but showcased the abilities animals can have,
said Karen Dewald, the school's assistant principal.

"I'm an animal lover and I know that a lot of the kids got excited
just to pet the dog because a lot of them don't have animals," said
Dewald, whose desk is filled with photos of her five dogs. "So we try
to incorporate different things and experiences that they might not
get to have at home. We think it's important that they know that
animals can be more than pets. But I always include the drug dog in
Safety Week because I'm an animal lover and I know the kids enjoy it."