As school districts across the nation grapple with the increasing presence of illicit substances on campus, routine “drug dog” checks have become a popular method for discouraging students from being bold enough to bring drugs with them to school. While many school districts are satisfied with these routine sweeps and see them as an appropriate measure to keep substances away from the learning environment, others, particularly growing districts, are concerned that eventually periodic checks will fail to tame rising numbers of drug use and distribution on school grounds. Such districts are beginning to mull over the purchase of a permanent dog, one on hand every hour of the school day that is able to quickly inspect a suspicious situation and keep students on their toes about keeping drugs with them. The Argyle school board recently approved a request for the district to purchase a police dog, and it is likely that another officer will be hired to handle the canine. However, in a district like Argyle, it is difficult to tell whether purchasing our own police dog is currently worth the money.

A police dog is no cheap investment. In a 2004 report, the Statistical Analysis Center estimated the cost of acquiring one canine for the Idaho State Police, which, including the salary of the handler, came out to be about $58,000 annually. This analysis neglected to include the medical expenses associated with caring for a police dog. Vet bills for these canines can range from $400 to $1000 a year. The total cost to hire a drug dog from a third party to inspect the school is roughly $200 a visit or $6000 annually (assuming monthly visits).

This is not to say that the cost of owning a drug dog wouldn’t be neutralized by the benefits. Argyle ISD Police Chief Cairney explained that the district had decided to invest in a dog now before the drug issue had a chance to develop any further. It could also be argued that the simple presence of a police canine would deter any new students from involving themselves in drug related incidents on campus.

“We don’t want to wait until something big happens before we take action on this,” Cairney said. The district is already advertising for another full-time police officer, including in the job description that the new officer would be the dog’s handler. Chief Cairney added that the administration isn’t looking for an attack dog. The highest priority according to him is the ability of the canine to sniff out illicit substances and look friendly enough so as not to startle elementary students.

To some on the outside of this decision, it may seem like a drastic measure. I myself was wary of the district having a significant enough drug problem on their hands to purchase a full time police dog. Without all of the facts on hand, however, one can only see what time reveals about this decision and whether or not it is an appropriate response to the issues the district presently faces.