Smokey is a police service dog. He visited Hernewood and M.E. Callaghan Intermediate schools with his handler, Cpl. Marc Periard for drug awareness demonstrations.
School bags, provided by several students, were spread out on the gym floor. A small container containing drugs was placed into one of the bags.
http://liarcatchers.com/drugdogsweeps.html
After Periard placed the drug collar on the dog’s neck, Smokey went to work, quickly going form bag to bag until he arrived at the one with drugs.
After sniffing it, he sat down by the bag and awaited his reward. Periard tossed him a dog’s toy and Smokey darted off to play with it.
Periard has been in the RCMP for 23 years, the last 15 as a dog handler. He and Smokey, a six-year-old German shepherd, have been a team for the past three years. Smokey is the third police dog Periard’s worked with.
The dog handler explained to students that Smokey doesn’t really know what he is looking for. He has been trained to sniff out certain drugs and he knows when he finds one he will get a reward.
“It’s a hide and seek game,” said the RCMP corporal.
Repetitive training and consistency help keep Smokey sharp, the officer explained.
Students also heard from West Prince RCMP officer Const. Jeff MacFarlane, who explained the dangers in drug use. While some drugs have medicinal uses, he stressed they are only for the consumption of the person to whom they were intended and in the proper concentrations.
MacFarlane warned students that drug dealers cannot be trusted with the drugs they sell as they can be laced with various and dangerous chemicals and drugs like crystal meth are extremely addictive and dangerous. Drugs like marijuana are sometimes laced with crystal meth, he noted
