DOGS SNIFF AROUND MYERS IN SEARCH OF ILLEGAL DRUGS

Max and Spot spent Thursday sniffing around W.R. Myers high school.

The two 18-month-old black labs weren't searching for doggie treats, they
were on the lookout for drugs. The pair of pups are part of K9 Services
Ltd., a private company which conducts drug searches using the specially
trained pooches. The company, owned by Murray Armstrong and Ken Batty, use
the dogs to sniff out various types of illegal drugs. Myers principal Mark
Davidson said the school plans to use the dogs periodically throughout the
year. The plan to use the dogs was published in the school's newspaper,
though the timing of the visit wasn't.

"They were told they'd be here this year and fairly often," said Davidson.

Davidson said if any high school principal thinks his or her school doesn't
have a problem, "they're either crazy or lying."

Davidson decided to use K9 Services because it's illegal to have police
conduct searches of students' lockers. Searches using the K9 dogs can be
conducted without probable cause. The students are kept in class while the
searches are completed, so as not to confuse the dogs with any additional
scents. Davidson said there hasn't been any complaints from students about
the searches, noting a proposal to implement a dress code drew more
negative response.

"Who's going to complain, the people with drugs? That would be a pretty
dumb thing to do."

There have been two searches done so far this year, neither of which turned
up anything, though Davidson said any student with a drug issue is of concern.

"If one student has drugs in the school, that's a problem."