Drug dog always by officer's side

Six-foot-eight Don Moore has a 3-foot-tall shadow —- a 3-year-old black Labrador Retriever trained to find drugs.

Sammy is trained to locate the odor patterns of marijuana, methamphedamine, heroin, cocaine and all the drugs made from these groups, and she is good at her job, according to Moore, a Bonners Ferry Police Officer.

Moore and Sammy are called upon when an incident is believed to involve drugs.  Moore also uses Sammy during drug interdiction patrols—large volume traffic stops in an attempt to find narcotics.  

Sammy was a pound puppy who trained to become a drug dog.  She was matched up with  Moore and has become his partner and family member. 

“Sammy just loves the attention she gets at home from my five kids,” said Moore.

Sammy is with Moore at all times, while working , on patrol and at home.   She is familiar with his family and other officers.

“A dog and its handler have to have compatible personalities,” said Moore.

Drug dogs and their handlers go through an 80-hour training course to become certified.

They spent the first couple weeks together with basic obedience training to form a bond, making the pair a solid team.

 Certification comes after the officer and their dog demonstrate their team work and ability to find hidden drugs.  

Moore and Sammy re-certify together every year.  They train once a week at different locations to keep their  skills intact and fresh.   The two have a connection that enables them to work together effectively, recognizing changes in each other’s behaviors, which is key to their success.   They have a true partnership and Sammy is a fellow officer.  If someone hits or moves to threaten Sammy that person will be charged with assaulting an officer.

Sammy works under a reward system that involves play instead of treats.  She has a special toy that Moore uses to play with her after she has found drugs.  She loves to play and the reward system is a powerful tool in keeping Sammy successful. 

“She loves the attention she gets with praise and play, it is highly motivational,” said Moore.

“We use this reward system in place of treats,” said Moore.  “Many subjects like to hide drugs in food thinking that the smell (of the food) will cover up the narcotics scent” he said. “Dogs can detect each scent individually even when mixed with other odors.” “We don’t use treats because  we don’t want Sammy (or other drug dogs) to get to used to excessive eating, this helps to keep her focused on her job to find narcotics, even when hidden in food,”  Moore said.

Moore and Sammy visit the local schools weekly.  Moore has been with the police department for 5 years.  For the last two years he has been the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer for the Boundary County School District.

They demonstrate their talents and help to educate students about the dangers of drugs starting at the elementary level.  According to Moore, this is one of his dog Sammy’s favorite things to do on the job. 

“She just loves the attention and all the little hands rubbing her belly,” he said.

Together, Moore and Sammy perform a critical service of keeping the community and schools free of drugs.

“I firmly believe that since I have had Sammy the use of narcotics in the community  has significantly reduced,” said Moore