SHELBY READY TO GO TO WORK

BRYANT - Shelby, a 15-month-old Labrador retriever, proved to be worth her
salt Monday.

The animal was recently purchased from the Little Rock K-9 Academy to serve
as a narcotics dog in the Bryant School District.

Trainer Tony Smith tested Shelby by hiding narcotics in metal boxes. The
animal detected two bags of narcotics, much to Smith's surprise.

"I only hid one unit of narcotics," he said. "One of our other trainers
left narcotics and she detected both of them. These dogs are accurate."

School resource officer Sgt. Keith Byrd of the Bryant Police Department
will serve as the animal's handler. Byrd serves primarily at Bryant Middle
School.

"Shelby will help find any drugs in backpacks, cars and lockers in the
school," he said. "I feel that her presence will serve as a deterrent for
students who bring drugs to school."

Byrd said Shelby is trained to sniff out marijuana, cocaine,
methamphetamines and heroine.