Drug dog training in Sallisaw

Police are busting more drug dealers than ever before - but many say the war on drugs is a losing battle. A special Oklahoma school for dogs is helping to change that. <br><br>Trainers and owners bring

Monday, October 8th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Police are busting more drug dealers than ever before - but many say the war on drugs is a losing battle. A special Oklahoma school for dogs is helping to change that.

Trainers and owners bring their dogs from all over the country to train at Sallisaw Kennels, where they can be certified for drug - and rescue - searches.

Troy Gordanier is a police officer in Concordia Kansas. He and his dog "Rhett" were in Sallisaw to stay up on the latest drug search techniques. Dogs can be as young as six months old to begin helping law enforcement make drug busts. Linda Sinclair with the Adair County Sheriff's Department, "Somewhere where we are having a hard time locating the drugs, they've got such a great nose on them that they can take you right to and pinpoint it, and show you where it's at. There's a lot of times we couldn't do it without 'em."

She says dogs have helped deputies find drugs in cars, thermos jugs, tubes, under mattresses, just about anywhere you can imagine.