(AP) Basko took a bite out of crime -- but it cost him his life.
The 5-year-old drug-sniffing German shepherd died Friday after he bit into a bag of cocaine during an annual certification search in Riverside County, according to Sgt. Jim Banach with the Redondo Beach Police Department.
Basko had successfully completed the search and was in his partner's car for the ride home when he had a seizure. The partner, Officer Ken Greenleaf, rushed Basko to a nearby animal clinic, where the dog died before he could be treated, Banach said.
Basko had been with the Police Department for four years, helping to apprehend suspects, including one wanted for murder, and assisting in the recovery of narcotics.
Ilph wrote:I just learned the other day that drug sniffing dogs think that drugs are their toys. That's how they're trained.
Thanks!! I have heard that the dogs are addicted to the drugs and that's why they find them so easily. I always thought it was cruel thing to do to a dog.
Well...(said in my best Bubba voice) I've been on sabbatical.
Ilph wrote:I just learned the other day that drug sniffing dogs think that drugs are their toys. That's how they're trained.
Thanks!! I have heard that the dogs are addicted to the drugs and that's why they find them so easily. I always thought it was cruel thing to do to a dog.
That actually only works on some drugs and some dogs. Dogs have such a fast, and often erratic heartbeat, that it would kill them if they had a minor dose of narcotics or amphetamines.
Most trainers try to use association. "Find this scent and get a treat." Sometimes the dogs will actually get addicted. There have been some efforts to train dogs other ways. My favorite would have to be the Australian Customs' method. They trained their dogs with baby powder. Turns out, the dogs completely missed cocaine and heroin and went after people with baby powder.
Canberra Newspaper wrote:CANBERRA, Australia - When police sniffer dogs couldn't trace drugs, the Australian state police force soon discovered the reason: the cocaine sample used to train them was talcum powder. Seven dogs that had worked on drug searches over the past three months will need to be retrained, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Evans said Friday.
