Rescue dogs in school could be trained to ‘alert’

DUE TO THE rash of violence at schools throughout the country and even the world, we suggest a canine solution that would save our children’s lives and the lives of many of the dogs that inevitably end up on “death row” that would not otherwise be saved by adoption.

The saved dogs can be trained to be stationed at each school to “alert” school officials to guns, bombs, or other dangerous items entering the schools at a universal entry point manned by armed school security for all students and visitors. The saved dogs could also patrol each school’s grounds with armed school security for weapons preventing violence and discouraging wannabe shooters from even attempting.

Since this plan will take time to implement, local government police dogs can be used at the schools until enough of the saved dogs can be trained so each school has at least one .... In the interim, daily searches of backpacks and vehicles by armed school security will also be a deterrent with significant criminal penalties for anyone caught bringing weapons into schools . ...

If this simple plan saves only one child’s life or the life of a death-row dog in addition to providing peace of mind to students and their parents, it will be well worth the costs.

Even though costly, these suggestions will cost significantly less than putting the X-ray machines and metal detectors currently used at courthouses and airports at each school.

ED MEINTZER and DIANA MEINTZER Los Lunas