Photo: Zebra K9s
Lakeview Public Schools in St. Clair Shores last year started using dogs from Zebra K9s to detect firearms, explosives and narcotics.
Now, the district will also use the dogs to sniff out vape pens which are used to smoke cannabis and tobacco. Vapes have been known to pose a danger to lungs and have become very prevalent among junior high and high school students around the country.
"If I can get another set of hands, eyes, ears and a nose, it's going to have an impact," Superintendent Karl Paulson tells Walter Murphy of CBS Detroit. The district said they've seen kids as young as 4th graders vaping.
"I'm not saying we catch everyone," Paulson said. "Dogs aren't everywhere all the time. Staff aren't everywhere all the time. But the chance that you're going to be caught is higher."
The vape-sniffing dogs come in addition to a program the district launched last year to educate students on the dangers of vaping, CBS Detroit reports.
Zebra K9s, which provides security for schools, events and hospitals, is based in Wateford. On schools, its website says:
Our full-time Safety Dog Teams play a crucial role in making K-12 schools safer for students, teachers, and parents. With their specialized training in firearm, explosives, narcotics, or vape detection, these highly skilled canines are a powerful deterrent against potential threats. By conducting consistent proactive searches throughout the day, our Safety Dog Teams help keep the school premises secure and free from dangerous substances or objects.
