Q. Does the school need a warrant to search my child’s locker?
A. According to court rulings, if school officials have reasonable suspicion that a search will turn up evidence that the student broke the law or the rules of the school, no warrant or probable cause is needed prior to conducting a search. The Fifth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals has upheld that a dog’s sniffing of students’ lockers in school hallways and automobiles parked in school parking lots does not constitute a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment, and therefore is not unconstitutional.
Q. Are drug-sniffing dogs safe?
A. At Superior Canine Services, our dogs are trained to remain in the complete control of the handler. The dogs have friendly personalities and are good around people.
Q. Will the drug-detecting dog cause damage to my house, school or office?
A. Dogs used for drug detection don’t have aggressive tendencies. They are trained to respond to the scent of various drugs. When they detect the smell, they sit still and indicate the source of the odor. They don’t disturb objects, rip into fabric or cause other types of damage.
Q. When is the best time to schedule a search?
We are set up to provide confidential or highly visible searches. For highest confidentiality, schedule the search for a time when you are certain family members, students or employees will not be present. To serve as a deterrent, it makes sense to do the opposite — schedule your search for a time when it will be observed by many.
Q. How do I select the right K-9 services company?
A. Look for a company that has fully trained and certified dogs and handlers. For maximum effectiveness, the canine services company must work in close cooperation with the client. When screening potential providers, ask yourself if company personnel are responsive to your questions and are willing to coordinate their approach in partnership with you.
Q. Will you report us to the police?
A. We are not affiliated with law enforcement and we do not retrieve or dispose of drugs. Our role is to help keep your home, school and business drug-free; it is not our job to seize drugs or put people in jail.
