In spring 2007, according to Demopolis High School principal Dr. Isaac Espy Jr., drug-sniffing dogs came to the DHS campus and detected items in several cars in the school parking lot.

Yesterday, drug-sniffing dogs from Interquest Detection Canines came again.

“They didn’t even find a ham sandwich,” Espy said facetiously. “They searched the parking lot and our classrooms and found nothing. We are very proud of this result. We feel like it is an indication that students should conduct themselves like they should. We are proud of this result, but this is the way it is supposed to be.

“This speaks well to the security of our school here. We should be proud to know that there was no detection of any materials. These dogs can even smell prescription medicines. That’s the concern in today’s world – not heroin, not cocaine. Prescription medicine abuse is the No. 1 drug concern.”

“We are very pleased with the outcome,” said Demopolis City Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers. “The reason the drug dogs come in is to be used as a deterrent. We want to make sure that we don’t have things on that campus that are not supposed to be there. We know that this is the kind of report that we want to have each time, but we are proud of today’s result.”

The drug-sniffing dogs make several impromptu searches throughout the school year.

“We contract with school systems for however many searches per year that they want us to do,” said Lee Jordan, president and owner of Interquest Detection Canines.

In the war on drugs in our schools, the best line is a strong defense. Intermittent searches by drug-sniffing dogs may not prevent nay drugs from reaching campus, but it is a strong deterrent that would make any would-be offender think twice.