Pubdate: Fri, 17 Aug 2007
Source: Whitehorse Star (CN YK)
Copyright: 2007 Whitehorse Star
Contact:  http://www.whitehorsestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1493
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

DOG HANDLER READY FOR SCHOOL

In the midst of a garage sale at his Edmonton home earlier this week, 
Doug Green said he's ready for the school year at Porter Creek 
Secondary School to begin.

The retired Edmonton police officer who's delivered the Dogs for Drug 
Free School program in Alberta will be moving to Whitehorse to 
deliver the first such program in the territory.

Under the name Canines for Safer Schools, Green will start his new 
job as a resource officer for Porter Creek Secondary School the same 
day students are back in the classroom on Sept. 4.

It still remains unknown whether Green will be permitted to bring his 
dog Ebony to school as a human rights case over allergies continues 
to be sorted out.

The program that was developed by Green saw him bring Ebony into 
participating schools. While Ebony is trained to detect drugs, the 
animal served more as a bridge between Green and students in 
discussing issues, he said.

"All the dog does is set boundaries," he said. "I'm going to set boundaries."

Green visited the territory last year to discuss the program at the 
school and then, when the territory budgeted a three-year $250,000 
pilot project, he applied for and was appointed the job.

After he and his wife sold their home in Edmonton and bought a house 
in Whitehorse, he's simply packing up and moving at this point and 
will be set for the first day of school.

Much of planning work for September is already done because he's 
delivered the program in other schools, he said.

His work of the next three years will focus on drug education, 
mentorship and relating to and helping out students who may be in trouble.

The ultimate goal, he said, is to help the students make it "to the podium".

Every student who walks across the stage to get their diploma is a 
success, he said.

Green noted there's a number of issues students today are dealing 
with that their parents wouldn't have dealt with during their high 
school years around the Internet.

Students socialize on the Internet, which is also a home for 
cyber-bullying. It's important for students to know how not to fall 
victim to predators on the net.

Part of his work will also focus on the parents of Porter Creek 
Secondary School and educating them on what their kids may be doing 
so they're able to talk to them about it.

Green noted he'd like to host a number of parent-nights during his 
time at Porter Creek.

He's pleased the government funded the project for three years, which 
will give him time to get to know students at the school and the 
issues they're dealing with, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom