School Safety Dog Now a Part of Ohio District

School Safety Dog Now a Part of Ohio District's Security Plans

An Ohio school district will use a trained dog to help them detect weapons and other threats. The district is serving as a pilot for the area and the state.

  • By Sherelle Black
  • September 18, 2019

It is no secret that dogs can be trained to protect humans and are often used by police departments to help fight crime.

Garaway Local Schools in Ohio approved the use of a school safety dog at its Monday board meeting. The usage of a dog for school security in the district will be a pilot for the area and state.

“At Garaway Schools, the safety of each and every child within this community is our district’s highest priority. We are continually examining safety measures for our school district and looking for ways to improve,” Garaway Superintendent Dr. James Millet said in a press release. “At our Sept. 16 Board Meeting, the Board una nimously agreed to a contract for a school safety dog. Local tax dollars were not needed to fund this safety improvement.”

Although the dog will be able to detect weapons and gunfire, Millet said it is unique as it will also serve as a therapy dog. The dog will be trained to be friendly around students and be able to be integrated into any school culture.

“We believe a dog provides the fastest possible response to an active threat,” stated Superintendent Millet in the release.

Skool Dogs Inc., which has been in business for nearly 100 years, is training the dog. The Dutch Shepherd, is expected to be turned over to the district in December.

Garaway School Safety Official Jason Wallick will be responsible for the dog.

“The safety and security of our students is the number one priority of my job and this is an excellent added measure in protecting our most valuable assets,” Wallick told the Times Reporter. “I am blessed to work for a district that will not ignore the safety issues faced in our society and will respond by adding a leading edge improvement like this school dog.”

Trained dogs normally cost about $25,000, but the district was able to get a $10,000 discount, reported the Times Reporter.

District officials expect the dog will be able to serve for 10 years.

About the Author

Sherelle Black is a Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular