Dogs sniffing for explosives at entrance??

[KYMickey]

Our police department gave a presentation on their dogs. They said you can't have dogs sniffing people because many dogs are trained to attack the person when they smell bombs/drugs. Some dogs just sit down next to the person with contraband, but some people are DEATHLY afraid of dogs and the scene those people cause is a worse security risk. Dogs are trained to sniff cargo and luggage, not people. And it does cost a FORTUNE to train and care for these dogs.
The dogs are "security theater" as another poster said.

This is true depending on the type of dog used. If the typical German Shepherd is used, people to become very scared and the dogs are usually trained for protection of the handler as well as for detection. However other breeds of dogs are also used for this type work that are very "people friendly". In this case the people feel much more comfortable around the dogs and actually if someone becomes nervous it can be a clue that they're trying to conceal something. Who doesn't love a little beagle or something along that line?

Of course in this case they really aren't used for security, just for detection which actually is 90% of the battle!

 

[mitros]

sniff sniff sniff....so many turnstyles, not enough time.

..and the trees, oh, the trees!

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I have a german shephard trained in protection and also for detection of "things". At age 3 she was suppose to go to a K-9 task force. We raised her for free for the past 3 years. She did not 100% pass her hip test and therefore did not pass. She will not go on to a K9 task force but stay with our family. She was a rescue we took her in at 7 months. We have a boston terrior who probably will go on to be a "drug" dog. So far he has passed every test. He is also a rescue. The cost to the PD at this point has only been the qualifiying test. I have raised them both for the past 3 yrs at my expense. Just like dog for the blind - other people raise them and give them up.

 

[The Rivers' Rats]

I was in Disneyland over the Halloween weekend and saw the dogs being used twice. Each time they were in front of the enterance to the park and were checking trash cans and bushes. This is the first time that I'd seen dogs being used, but that might be because this was the first trip where the park was empty enough that they wouldn't blend in with the crowds.

On the 9/11 note, I remember going to park in 2002 and seeing Anaheim PD officers everywhere that I went inside the parks. They were in addition to the Disney Security folks and were carrying their firearms and had gas masks hanging off of their hips. I have seen the Anaheim officers in Downtown Disney lately (without the gas masks), but not inside the parks. They also used metal detectors (larg airport style) at all enterances in 2002, but those have been replaced by having the castmembers check bags manually. After watching the half-hearted searches, I think I'd prefer to see the metal detectors again....

 

[WI WDWGIRL]

Also on the 9/11 note... I went 10 days later and the security was unlike anything I have ever seen. A lot of people must have cancelled their trips because we literally walk on every ride. I really think the craziest part was how quiet it was. Standing in the middle of Main Street and it was like I was there all alone. I think people were afraid to even enjoy themselves. Besides the 2 security people for every visitor(or so it seemed) was that the monorail was only running one in each direction. You had to wait forever for it. (I'm guessing that is because of the video of the terriorists riding in the nose.) Anyways, I have a beagle mix and she's nasty when she wants to be, so I'm sure you wouldn't have to use a G.S. A dog chacing you through MK has certainally got to slow you down.

 

[jfinke]

Interesting. We were there in Feb 2002. I didn't really notice much security. However, the parks were dead. It was my first time since the early 90s. So, I figured it was just part of the down time. Afterwords, I realized most people didn't want to travel at that time.

I have pics of my brother and I walking around Epcot with not another tourist in sight.

 

[VacationKicks]

We went to WDW in Nov. and we saw the dogs in action 3 times. All at bags left unattended. Once was at the bus deport leaving MK there was a diaper bag left behind and security kept people out of the area until the dog came and cleared the bag. Then security started to carefully look in the bag, when a harried dad came up and claimed the bag. We were waiting for a bus nearby so we got to watch the whole thing.

One was in MK, security roped off a path by the castle until a dog came and sniffed the bag.

We saw a third one too. We got pretty good at spotting the left behind bags guarded by security waiting for the dogs.

So they are around and used when needed.

 

[graciejane]

I have never seen dogs being used but am glad to hear they are. We had a trip that had been planned for 2 years so we were at WDW 2 weeks after 9/11. We have never seen the parks so quiet. We also had never seen so much security. It was both comforting and a little unnerving.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Any measures aimed at protecting us get a Thumbs UP from me!

 

[lisah0711]

I have a german shephard trained in protection and also for detection of "things". At age 3 she was suppose to go to a K-9 task force. We raised her for free for the past 3 years. She did not 100% pass her hip test and therefore did not pass. She will not go on to a K9 task force but stay with our family. She was a rescue we took her in at 7 months. We have a boston terrior who probably will go on to be a "drug" dog. So far he has passed every test. He is also a rescue. The cost to the PD at this point has only been the qualifiying test. I have raised them both for the past 3 yrs at my expense. Just like dog for the blind - other people raise them and give them up.

Bless you for training those dogs -- I can't imagine raising a dog for three years and then giving it up, even for a really, really good cause.

And back on topic, when we were at DLR last week they were using some kind of sensor to check strollers and trash cans in the park. They were very discreet about it.

 

[puntagordabob]

last day of november 2008 we saw a patrol with a dog at the entrance to DHS.

 

[kendo911]

We just went JAn 2-4 and seen them all three days. Sometimes at the front entrance and inside the park. I did get to see one of the teams in action to do an unsecured bag check. We were coming off haunted mansion and seen a handler and the Disney EOD tech run past towards the Hall of Presidents. We seen through the crowd of Disney Employees the handler and dog going through the bag.

 

[pezheadmeg]

Saw one walking through MK with it's handler over Labor Day weekend. They were walking her through Tommorrowland, it was a beagle. I'm in NY Penn Station enough to know that it's usually not a Shepard that's doing the checking.

Disney having them doesn't surprise me at all. If Macy's has a dozen working just out Herald Square, WDW can easily afford them.

 

[meduck]

we saw dogs at Disneyland several times in the last 2 weeks while there.

 

[GSDRescuer]

I would feel safer knowing that a K9 was working the parks.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Outstanding post Kelly! Far too many people have totally forgotten about 9/11! We are originally from N.J. and also lost friends at the WTC. God bless America!

No one has forgotten about 9-11. Please don't start that.

Instead more Americans have realized that many of the policies enacted in the aftermath of 9-11 were knee jerk reactionary policies that took away freedoms and have done NOTHING to make our country safer. In fact many would argue the war in Iraq strengthened Al Quaida.

 

[KYMickey]

No one has forgotten about 9-11. Please don't start that.

Instead more Americans have realized that many of the policies enacted in the aftermath of 9-11 were knee jerk reactionary policies that took away freedoms and have done NOTHING to make our country safer. In fact many would argue the war in Iraq strengthened Al Quaida.

I take it by reading your post that you don't feel security very important in America. If you did you realize that in order to keep our freedoms we need to make sacrifices. Yes, there were knee jerk reactions but at least there were actions instead of congressional hearings! Too bad you don't really know some of the things that have been done to increase our security. Just because you don't see them they're there and working. Without them we surely would have been victimized by additional terrorist attacks. America, unlike many other countries is forced by its citizens to keep a low profile with security measures in most cases. We certainly wouldn't accept nor feel comfortable with some of the security measures in other countries. We could be more secure but some of our civil rights organizations like the ACLU always stick their noses in and cause all kinds of grief when visible security measures are stepped up.

 

[mitros]

No one has forgotten about 9-11. Please don't start that.

Instead more Americans have realized that many of the policies enacted in the aftermath of 9-11 were knee jerk reactionary policies that took away freedoms and have done NOTHING to make our country safer. In fact many would argue the war in Iraq strengthened Al Quaida.

No, don't you start that..............

 

[mitros]

I take it by reading your post that you don't feel security very important in America. If you did you realize that in order to keep our freedoms we need to make sacrifices. Yes, there were knee jerk reactions but at least there were actions instead of congressional hearings! Too bad you don't really know some of the things that have been done to increase our security. Just because you don't see them they're there and working. Without them we surely would have been victimized by additional terrorist attacks. America, unlike many other countries is forced by its citizens to keep a low profile with security measures in most cases. We certainly wouldn't accept nor feel comfortable with some of the security measures in other countries. We could be more secure but some of our civil rights organizations like the ACLU always stick their noses in and cause all kinds of grief when visible security measures are stepped up.

Thank you so much, you hit the nail directly on the head!

 

[thefirebuilds]

I am offended at the remarks here. Disney can't afford NOT to have bomb sniffing dogs! They should be at every entrance! The cost of them NOt taking EVERY precaution far outweighs the cost of paying for the service of these dogs and law enforcement. I know this is my own opinion here and many of you on these boards live in different parts of the USA but I live in NJ and knew of many families who had loved ones die in 9/11 . In my own family we lost my Uncle and two other Uncles were trapped that day in NY but escaped -forever scarred emotionally.
A prime target is Disney . They should always do their utmost in the security department. People in other parts of the country just forget and don't want to remember. I don't blame you I felt the same way, we want to move on and get on with a normal life. I know I want this too , but it is not realistic. It is what it is now in the world and we must protect ourselves. I watched the movie 102 minutes on 9/11 this year and it all came vividly back . Disney must continue to keep security a priority. They would be a huge emotional target to hit and we all know that as we all on these boards love Disney.
Random dog sniffing is not enough. They have far more to lose if they don't do it. My fellow disney board members please remember and realize we still must be aware of what could happen and demand top security and not complain about it or become indifferent because we forgot about 9/11.
I don't mean to be too serious or a downer but I felt I needed to comment-
----And on that note , let's hope for a better future for our country and more Disney Parks and more countries and restaurants in my beloved Epcot!!!

It's called risk assesment. Read a book.

The presence of one dog should be enough to deter most anyone from attempting something so stupid and short sighted.

You guys love to point at 9-11. 9-11 was an accidental fluke. No amount of "security" could protect us from such lunacy.