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I AM A WORKING DOG

My eyes are your eyes, to watch you and to protect you and yours, 
My ears are your ears, to hear and detect evil minds in the dark, 
My nose is your nose, to scent the invader of your domain, 
And so you may live, my life is also yours. 
                                                                              ~~ Unknown

 

History of K-9 Protectors 

European police forces were using bloodhounds as early as the 18th century. It wasn't until World War I that countries like Belgium and Germany formalized the training process and started using dogs for specific tasks, such as guard duty. The practice continued through World War II. Soldiers returning home brought news of the well-trained dogs being used by both sides of the conflict. Soon, K-9 programs were begun in London and other cities across Europe. The use of police dogs didn't gain a foothold in the United States until the 1970s. Today, police dogs are recognized as a vital part of law enforcement, and the use of police dogs has grown rapidly in the last five years.

Public order enforcement
These heroes enforce public order by chasing, holding suspects, or detaining suspects. The very presence of a police k-9 can prevent physical confrontations because a dog's intimidating growl can cause many suspects to surrender instead of running or fighting.  When a conflict does arise, these dogs are faster and stronger than most humans, able to catch a fleeing suspect and hold them until other police officers arrive.

Detection 
These heroes detect illicit substances such as drugs or explosives which may be carried on a person or in their effects. As of February 2007, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration currently uses 420 trained dogs to patrol 75 airports and 13 major transit systems. On September 11, 2001, the TSA only had 174 dogs in service in 39 airports

Search and Rescue
These heroes are trained in detecting the odor of bodies; their ultra-sensitive hearing, night vision, stamina and sense of smell are invaluable in efforts to locate missing persons. Because of their extraordinary abilities, they are often able to reduce the time spent searching, thereby increasing the chances that the mission persons will be found alive. A search dog's success stems from the fact that every human being has a smell -- not detectable by human beings, but discernible by these animals. With the training they have had in trailing or air scenting techniques, the search K-9s are able to locate missing persons even if they are hidden from view. Experts estimate that a single dog team can be as effective as 20 to 30 trained human searchers in locating a missing person in a given period of time.