Ohio State And 2 Other Ohio Universities Get Bomb Dogs

Three universities are getting bomb-sniffing dogs through a pilot program that officials eventually hope to expand throughout Ohio's state universities. The presentations are Monday at Youngstown State University, Tuesday at Ohio State University and Wednesday at Bowling Green State University. Ohio's public safety director, John Born, says it's part of Gov. John Kasich's plans to strengthen school safety for students ranging from preschool to college age. Born says the dogs can respond to threats and conduct security sweeps for large-scale events, such as athletic games or visits by dignitaries. It costs more than $12,700 to buy each animal and pay for initial training and equipment. Ohio Homeland Security is covering those costs with federal grant money. The universities provide the officers who become the dogs' full-time handlers.