NCJ Number
74326
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1981) Pages: 37,40-43
Date Published
1981
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The article traces the use of dogs in military and law enforcement programs and cites their extraordinary success record in bomb and drug detection efforts.
Abstract
Today bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs are doing a faster and better job of detection and location than humans ever did and are becoming an accepted and important part of most major police departments and federal enforcement agencies. Dogs have been used throughout history to ensure man's safety in times of war. They were used as far back as Egypt in 4000 B.C., and in most military campaigns since then. In the 20th century, dogs were used in both World Wars and in Korea and Vietnam in sentry, pack, sled, messenger, scout, and mine-detector duties. Currently, federal agencies such as the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Customs Service, the Federal Aviation Administration, train and use dogs for narcotics and explosives detection. They have achieved extraordinary success in preventing the losses of many lives and in keeping millions of dollars worth of drugs off the streets. For example, during a 1975 nationwide test, Air Force trained dogs found every one of the 337 explosive devices hidden around airports. In one Miami airport case, a Customs dog found over 72 pounds of cocaine wrapped in plastic and packed with raw potatoes in a suitcase.