K-9 teams are essential for secure schools. These dogs by provide an extra layer of protection against escalating threats like drugs and firearms for students, reports Kristi Hoss Schiller, founder of K9s4COPs and K9s4KIDs .

Schiller says with rising concerns over school shootings and other security issues, K-9 teams are a crucial resource for early detection and prevention.

How K-9s Can Be Used

Using K-9s in school safety programs is a vital step toward improving security in educational environments, according to Schiller.

One of the most prominent functions of K-9s is their ability to sniff out narcotics to prevent illegal substances from entering schools.

K-9s are also invaluable in firearms and other weapons detection, she adds. Early detection of weapons significantly lowers the risk of violence, she says, resulting in a safer school environment.

Trained dogs also deter students and outsiders from bringing illegal substances or firearms onto campus. This lowers the risk of incidents and increases security, she says.

In the event of an emergency, Schiller says these dogs help law enforcement track suspects, locate missing people, and identify explosives. Quick responses can minimize harm and lead to faster crisis resolution, she adds.

Even more importantly, Schiller reminds that school K-9 teams shores up trust between law enforcement and the school community. Students, staff, and parents feel safer knowing these dogs are actively involved in maintaining security on campus.   

Where to Get a Dog

Agencies interested in a school-based K-9 team can apply to K9s4Kids through a specific process that assesses the team's suitability for the school and community.

Agencies must complete and submit an application through the K9s4COPs website, which also handles K9s4KIDs requests. The application requires details about the agency, school district, or campus security team requesting the dog, as well as the specific reasons for needing a K-9. 

This application helps identify the need for a K-9 unit in the school or district. Schiller recommends that applicants include information about any safety concerns in the schools, such as drug activity, firearms threats, or other security risks that the K-9 can help mitigate.

“Highlighting these issues can strengthen the application and show how a K-9 would enhance school safety,” she says.

Applicants also must show they have the resources to care for the K-9 and handle its day-to-day needs, Schiller adds. This includes a trained handler, funds for food, medical care, and ongoing training for the dog.

K9s4KIDs prefers to provide dogs to agencies with trained handlers or those committed to sending a handler for specialized K-9 training. This ensures the dog and handler can work effectively as a team in a school setting, Schiller says.

Once the application is submitted, it goes through a review process by the K9s4COPs/K9s4KIDs team. This process evaluates the agency’s needs, the proposed handler’s qualifications, and the school’s safety context.

K9s4KIDs relies on private donations to fund the dogs they place. Once an agency is selected, K9s4KIDs may help by seeking sponsors to fund the dog, or the agency can start its own fundraising efforts to cover the cost, which includes training and placement expenses.

Once a dog has been selected and matched with an agency, both the K-9 and handler undergo specialized training together. This training prepares the team to operate in a school setting, including training in drug, firearm and contraband detection, as well as in handling crisis situations.

After placement, K9s4KIDs offers continued support to ensure the dog and handler remain effective. This may include re-certification training, guidance on the dog’s health and well-being, and assistance with any challenges that arise.

The process of receiving a dog from K9s4KIDs takes time, Schiller adds.

“On average, the entire process can take anywhere from 6 months to over a year, depending on factors like application processing, fundraising, dog availability, and training requirements,” Schiller says. “Some cases may be expedited if the need is urgent and a dog is readily available, while others may take longer due to funding or training logistics.”

She adds, “This timeline ensures the dog and handler are fully prepared for their responsibilities, creating the best possible fit for the school environment and maximizing safety and effectiveness.”

The Partnership with K-9s4KIDS

K9s4KIDs takes several steps to ensure its K-9 teams make a maximum impact in schools by working closely with law enforcement agencies and schools throughout the entire process.  

“K9s4KIDs maintains regular communication with the handler, the law enforcement agency, and the school administration to monitor how the K-9 team is performing,” she says. “This helps ensure that any challenges or adjustments needed are addressed promptly.”

Before the K-9 team is deployed, K9s4KIDs works with the school administration, security staff, and law enforcement agencies to understand the specific security needs and challenges the school faces. This ensures the K-9 is used effectively for the issues that matter most, such as narcotics, firearms, or general safety, according to Schiller.

Next customized security strategies are developed. Schiller explains each school has unique needs, so K9s4KIDs tailors how the K-9 team will be integrated into the school’s existing security protocols. This can include deciding on the frequency of patrols, where and when searches will be conducted, and how the K-9 will participate in emergency drills or crisis response plans, she says.

School environments require specialized training for both K-9s and their handlers, she adds. The training covers working around children, handling distractions, and remaining calm in high-traffic areas such as hallways, cafeterias, and sports events.

The organization ensures every K-9 team receives continued training or advanced courses to enhance their effectiveness as security threats evolve.

K9s4KIDs organizes workshops or presentations for students, faculty, and parents, introducing the K-9 team and educating them on the role of the K-9. Schiller says, “This helps build trust and ensures that the community understands how the K-9 works to keep the campus safe.”

The K-9 team often performs demonstrations to showcase their skills in detection and protection. Schiller says these demonstrations provide reassurance to the school community but also serve as a deterrent for potential threats.

The team’s effectiveness is regularly evaluated, and K-9s4KIDs may suggest new strategies or additional training based on feedback from the school or agency. This helps ensure the team remains proactive in keeping the school safe.

K-9s4KIDs also offers periodic re-certification for the K-9 and handler. “This ensures their skills are up-to-date, particularly in detection and crisis response, which may require new techniques or updated training based on emerging threats,” she adds.

All of these strategies are necessary, she says, because “during a crisis, the K-9 team may play a vital role in detecting threats, securing areas, and assisting law enforcement with tracking suspects. It ensures that the K-9 and handler are fully equipped to respond quickly and effectively in these situations.”

She adds, “K9s4KIDs encourages a close partnership between the K-9 team and local law enforcement agencies. This helps create a seamless approach to school safety, ensuring that all security personnel are on the same page and that the K-9 team has access to additional resources if needed.”

K9s4KIDs also works with the school and law enforcement to gather data on the impact of the K-9 team, such as the number of incidents prevented, substances detected, or threats neutralized.  Based on the evaluation, K9s4KIDs can make recommendations for any adjustments to improve the program’s impact, such as increasing patrols or enhancing communication between the K-9 team and school security staff.

“By collaborating closely with schools, law enforcement agencies, and the broader community, K9s4KIDs ensures school-based K-9 teams have the tools, training, and support needed to make a significant and lasting impact on school safety,” Schiller concludes.