WATSONVILLE, Calif.- K9 dogs are specifically trained to sniff out drugs, alcohol, even gun powder and they could be sniffing around your child's school. It's a pro-active step, being taken by some local school districts to keep kids from doing drugs and so much more.
On Wednesday night we took a look at one school district that's weighing the option. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District said in light of so much violence going on all around the country, it's just a coincidence that right now they're looking into security like a canine to sniff out anything suspicious on any school campus, like guns or drugs.
Parent Salvador Franco said thinks his daughter would be safer at school having a dog like 10-year-old Labrador Retriever Jessie to patrol the grounds.
"It's a good idea to start controlling in the schools the use of drugs," said parent Salvador Franco.
While we didn't find anyone who seemed to be opposed to the idea, Franco said when it comes to privacy, there needs to be an open dialogue so everyone knows their child's school could be randomly searched at any time.
"Has to be approval for all the people, fathers and teachers and the district," Franco said.
The school district has considered the idea before but didn't decide to go ahead with it. Right now the board may consider hiring a company with K9 services like Jessie and her trainer at $350 for six hour visits a few times a year.
"Newtown, the horrible tragedy there, has everyone focused on safety and safety procedures," said PVUSD assistant superintendent Murry Schekman.
Jessie is capable of finding many things including something like a 9mm bullet. But that's not all.
"Illegal drugs, drinking alcohol, gun powder black and flash power and the prescription medications that subject to abuse," said trainer Julia Ford.
At Wednesday night's demonstration is just an initial look at what Jessie can do and board members said going with a private company is a better option than asking local law enforcement.
"I think that their budgets are stressed, just as other public agencies are stressed and we're not wanting to lean on them for that," Schekman said.
The school district decided to have staff come back with more information and a recommendation at the next board meeting.
