WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.399 --> 00:00:06.519 It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeartRadio. 2 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:13.759 Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff. And with me is 3 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:17.760 co founder and managing partner of School Dogs, and that's 4 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:22.719 Skool Brandon Womack. So, Brandon, it's going to be great 5 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:25.160 to talk to you. Thanks for taking some time out today. 6 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:27.199 Thanks for having me absolutely. 7 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.199 So let's talk about school Dogs. How did it all begin? 8 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:30.399 What? 9 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:33.240 First of all, what is school Dogs for those who 10 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:34.359 never heard of it before? 11 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:39.240 So we are an innovative active shooter response canine program. 12 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:42.960 And what that means is our dogs actually only respond 13 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:47.280 to the sound of gunfire. Unlike a traditional police dog 14 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.119 in which we teach a dog a bike command, the 15 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:54.359 dog's actual engagement command is the sound of the gunfire. 16 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:55.119 Amazing. 17 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:57.960 Our dogs are training the run through a crowd of people, 18 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:00.920 crowd of kids running at the dog, and teachers and 19 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:04.079 staff members running towards the dogs. The dog will navigate 20 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:08.319 through those individuals and only engage the person shooting the gun. 21 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:09.159 Wow. 22 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:12.040 Wow, So how long have you been around? When was 23 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:12.920 this all started? 24 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:15.959 We started right after the Parkland shooting in twenty eighteen, 25 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:20.959 where seventeen individuals were killed, and we said to ourselves, 26 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.239 we've been training dogs to do so many different things, 27 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:26.640 and dogs are such a asset to what we do, 28 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:30.560 and whether it's policing or military fire and arson, we 29 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:33.359 use dogs for just about everything. 30 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:34.359 Now sure yea. 31 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:36.560 So we said we have to come up with a 32 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.000 way to protect our kids while they're in school. And 33 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:42.680 after the Parkland shooting, we said, man, that deputy stood 34 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:46.599 outside for you know, there's really no accurate number. Some 35 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.319 say twenty seven minutes, some say never in it't the building. 36 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:53.079 And we said, man, how can we remove the human element, 37 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:56.640 because as humans, we're thinking about men. You know, my pension, 38 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.799 my husband, my wife, my kids, all these things that 39 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:02.840 are going on. This dog doesn't think about any of that. 40 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:05.920 The dog just says, men, every time I found that 41 00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:09.759 person shooting the gun, I got rewarded. I got paid, 42 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:12.039 whether that was through a tug, whether that was through love, 43 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:15.000 whether that was through affection, whatever that is, that dog 44 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:18.360 got paid for that. So with that deputy standing outside 45 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:21.680 for twenty seven minutes, which is the last account, we said, 46 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:24.199 we have to do something. Let's remove the human elements 47 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:27.280 so this dog can just be taken off leash when 48 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:31.639 that dog's released, he will navigate through the building, through stairways, 49 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:34.840 through doorways, whatever that may be, and find that person 50 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:38.439 shooting the gun and go direct to that threat. What's 51 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:41.719 also nice about our dogs is because they're cone shaped ears, 52 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:44.960 they don't hear the same echo we hear. So when 53 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:47.080 we hear that echo in these school buildings, because a 54 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:50.439 lot of these school buildings are monstering, sure, and it's 55 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:54.680 hard for us as humans actually decipher was that upstairs, downstairs? 56 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:57.520 Was that down this hallway or that hallway. The dog 57 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.719 actually doesn't hear that echo like we do. So she's 58 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:04.759 extremely here. She is extremely direct the threat. And we 59 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:08.400 know these Milly's Moulin walls, the German shepherds, the shepherds 60 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:11.240 that we're using, they run anywhere from twenty to thirty 61 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:11.919 miles per hour. 62 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:12.759 Yeah, they're fast. 63 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:16.680 We have a dog extremely So we have a dog 64 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:19.800 coming that fast at you and either you're going to 65 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:23.240 do a few things, hopefully the dogs can engage you. Right, 66 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:26.879 you're going to drop that gun in your run, which 67 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.599 if you do that, we consider that a win. At 68 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:31.560 the endustry. You stop killing our. 69 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:33.360 Kids, right, right, So, if you drop. 70 00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:35.840 That gun and pick off running. Hey both if. 71 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:38.159 Win win, yeah, we'll take that. 72 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:41.240 But if you don't, just understand, are dogs coming at you? 73 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:41.840 That's right? 74 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:44.199 Yeah, all right, So let me ask you this, and 75 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:47.439 this is maybe is a stupid question, but I'll assume 76 00:03:47.479 --> 00:03:50.240 that the dogs are they do they have like a 77 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:54.439 bulletproof vest on as well to protect them, so the dog. 78 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.199 Section or don't wear bullet ross invest they don't need 79 00:03:57.240 --> 00:03:58.360 to close them down. 80 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:01.199 That's yeah, okay them down, Okay. 81 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:04.400 So we know that through you know, researching. You know, 82 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:06.360 when we started this program, we had at that time 83 00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:09.639 about six hundred and seventy two school shootings thatt reresearch, 84 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:13.479 and we know most of those shooters that are engaging 85 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:17.439 these in these accents out of our schools are normally 86 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:20.399 students within that school or have been suitents in that school. 87 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.240 So they're younger, right, So they're not for lack of 88 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:27.199 better strims, they're not marksmen at target shooting. So you 89 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:29.600 got to remember there it's about a nine inch target 90 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:32.959 coming moving at twenty to thirty miles per hour. They're 91 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:37.639 extremely hard to target. In addition, if they're using a 92 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:41.000 high powered rifle of some sort, most likely that vest 93 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:44.839 either may not stop that round or if it does that. 94 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:48.439 You know, getting hit in a in a bullet resistant 95 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:53.160 vest with a nine millimeters or forty caliber round is 96 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:55.800 like a sledgehammer hitting you. So there's a good chance 97 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:59.000 that dog may not survive even with a vest on, 98 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:02.319 right right, you know, not tell everybody does fast or 99 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.040 more for knife defense where you're going into a building 100 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:07.480 and you know, we're worried about the dog being stabbed. 101 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:11.480 Sure, most of these these shooting cases, these are inexperienced shooters, 102 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:15.519 and it's hard for even experience shooters to be able 103 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:17.279 to hit a target going at you know, that's a 104 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:18.160 problem house. 105 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:20.639 Per hour, right right, Yeah. 106 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:22.040 And under stress and nerves and things like that. 107 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:24.040 To add to that, sure, no, that makes sense. 108 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:27.439 And also the element of surprise, because as you said, 109 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:31.360 they're inexperienced shooters, they're just expecting people to be screaming 110 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:35.519 and running. They're not expecting a powerful dog, a powerful 111 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:37.920 large dog to come after them out of nowhere. 112 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:41.759 Absolutely exactly right. Yes, another element we add to that 113 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:44.319 in that response era, and we know that most of 114 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:48.800 our dogs are handled by school resource officers, school police officers, 115 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.000 and they're also going to be delivering around sound arrange 116 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:55.040 onto target as well, so you know that shooter is 117 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:57.480 going to that active shooter scenario is either he's gonna 118 00:05:57.519 --> 00:05:59.600 have to target the dog or target the officer that 119 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:00.439 shooting at him. 120 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.519 He can't do both, right, right, right? 121 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:05.480 You know, our goal is to stop that threat as 122 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:09.399 quickly as possible, and we don't believe there's anything unless 123 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.800 you're putting a line in a school somehow, there's not 124 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:15.040 much faster than than a dog coming at you at 125 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:16.959 this point with the amount of training, we of. 126 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.839 Course how and how long does it take to train 127 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.000 a dog to be to be up to I don't 128 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.279 want to say up to speed, but actually ready to 129 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:27.439 go and do this job. 130 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:30.959 So once the hard part is actually finding the right dog. 131 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:33.079 And I can tell you we we a lot of 132 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:36.319 times go through thirty forty to fifty dogs sometimes to 133 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:39.199 find the right dog for the right school, right, okay, 134 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:42.000 because it's not just a regular dog that we can 135 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.800 import or that we can locate within the United States. 136 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:47.600 It's you know, we have to look at the demographics 137 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:49.480 of the school. For instance, we have dogs that are 138 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:52.639 in pre K three through twelfth grade school, and then 139 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:55.959 we have some matter in college campuses and high schools. 140 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.279 So that demeanor of the dog needs to change because 141 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:02.160 I have to be able to take that dog and 142 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:04.439 introduce him to a three year old or four year 143 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:06.639 old that's run to the dog and a doggy doggy 144 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.639 doggie and hit the dog in the face, and that 145 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:10.319 dog has to be like okay, enough. 146 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.639 And not right, just walk away right right right, No, 147 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:13.480 that makes sense. 148 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.879 That is the hard part. Once we find the actual 149 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:21.720 perfect dog for the school, that training process is normally 150 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:25.519 anywhere from ten to fourteen weeks of on ground to 151 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:30.279 get that dog certified as a certified school dog, and 152 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:33.560 then we locate the trainer or excuming the handler that's 153 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:37.199 going to handle the dog. That handler comes to eyeside 154 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.839 our facility and we certify them then as a team 155 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.560 for two to three weeks, and then we go to 156 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:45.240 their school where the dog's going to work at, and 157 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.480 we're there for two to three weeks to make sure 158 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:50.839 there's no hiccups that you know, the demographics inside the 159 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:53.399 school that are seen. There's no external factors that we 160 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:56.560 need to be concerned with. But you know, the process 161 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:59.959 from start to finish to obtaining a dog is about 162 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:01.120 four to six months. 163 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:04.600 Okay, now that that makes sense. I mean, yeah, I 164 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:05.519 mean that makes sense. 165 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.240 It's like it's like a service dog training about the same. 166 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:09.439 Absolutely. Yeah. 167 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:12.720 So then once okay, so now say we go through 168 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:15.680 the process and then the dog is ready to go 169 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:20.120 to the school. It's after the six months is the 170 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:23.839 handler with the dog in the school or the dog 171 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:27.040 is just they are So there was always like a 172 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:28.959 handler and the dog in the school. 173 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:32.120 Absolutely. So there's always a handler and the dog in 174 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:35.519 the school because kids will do kid things, of course. Yeah, 175 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.879 we believe our dogs are completely safe or kid friendlyders 176 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:41.320 socialized of course, so a lot of our dogs are 177 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.960 looked at as mascots. They have yearbook photos, they have 178 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:48.360 sweet yeah, just really a part of the school, you know. 179 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:49.559 Yeah, yeah, really. 180 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.879 What we didn't recognize was the ripple effect that you know, 181 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:55.399 we found, especially for instance, Meadow, which was our first 182 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:59.360 dog placed in twenty eighteen. You know, that dog had 183 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.279 this ripple effect in which, you know, we had a 184 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:05.600 student that ended up printing out Meadow T shirts and 185 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.639 Meadow pictures on T shirts and she had shoes with 186 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:12.639 Meadows picture. And what we found out was that that 187 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:14.840 young lady was on the spectrum at that point she 188 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:17.919 was autistic, and what we found was that was her 189 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:20.240 motivation to come to school each day. 190 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:20.840 Wow. 191 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:23.919 And you know, you know, with that was like, oh man, 192 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:26.440 I didn't even think of that as a sure Hipple 193 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:30.960 effect on. Hey, this was more than just protecting kids. 194 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:34.639 Yes, yes, it's more absolutely and I've heard that about 195 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:37.720 with other cases. Yeah, and in your case, it's not 196 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:41.039 just the job of protecting the kids, it's also helping 197 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:44.440 the kids live their lives too, which is like, oh 198 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:46.399 my god, it gives me chills. That's so because we 199 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:49.679 love dogs so much, you know, and they're just so awesome. 200 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:53.440 It just adds to how awesome they are, which we know, Wow, 201 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:56.960 that's that's so very cool. So about I mean, is 202 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:00.960 there approximate of how many schools you actually have the 203 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.399 dogs in at this time? 204 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:05.919 So right now we have four dogs deployed, so one 205 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:08.519 in New Jersey, one in Ohio, one in Florida, and 206 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:11.879 one in Tennessee. Where our dogs are currently deployed. We're 207 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.120 actually putting Cumberland County Tech, which is in New Jersey, 208 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.919 was our first school dog that we put in place 209 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:21.759 in twenty eighteen, which is Meadow. Meadow's actually retiring after 210 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:26.639 this school year, so they're getting their second dog. But 211 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:29.759 you know that was our initial like, hey, how does 212 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:32.639 this work? And we've learned so much along the way. Sure, 213 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:35.919 but that's our four schools, and obviously every time there's 214 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:39.879 an unfortunate incident, we get a lot of calls from 215 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:42.919 different schools and different different states asking how does this 216 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.759 program work? And I can tell you now we've had 217 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:48.799 multiple calls just recently from other schools in Florida and 218 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:51.919 Tennessee because they're starting to see, hey, these dogs are 219 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:56.240 out this saw the program works. Sure, it's really an asset, 220 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.840 you know, everybody. And then just to add to that 221 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:02.440 real fast, our dogs are also trained to find guns 222 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:06.440 and ammunition. So not only are they reactive right and 223 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.159 effect that if you get something to say on your 224 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:12.600 safe to Say Something line or or your reporting line, 225 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:15.559 we can actually deploy the dog to search lockers and 226 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:19.080 book bags and classrooms and bathrooms and things like that 227 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:21.639 to be proactive and are approach to making sure our 228 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:23.080 school campuses are safe. 229 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:28.200 Sure, sure that Magical knows that that dogs have you know, really, 230 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:29.240 it's true. 231 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:29.799 It's so true. 232 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.320 So now the school where Meadow is going to be retired, 233 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:37.360 does Meadow get adopted. Does Meadow go with the handler? 234 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.799 Like what happens to Meadow? 235 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:42.120 Then yes, Meto actually will live a relaxing life this 236 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:45.320 point full after retirement with their with Steve and there 237 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:48.200 who's the handler of the dog. Those two have been 238 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:51.360 partnered up since the very beginning. So you will retire 239 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:53.919 and live with Steve and his other puppies. 240 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:55.399 Ah, that's awesome. 241 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.159 I love this program, and especially I mean because I 242 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:00.799 just know every time and I mean you know this 243 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:04.919 every time. Unfortunately we hear of a school shooting and 244 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:07.639 then some school district is like, well, I think the 245 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:10.440 teachers should be armed, and I always think, yeah, I 246 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:14.360 don't think that's the solution, because you know, not every 247 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:16.279 teacher is going to be able to be a marksman 248 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:20.399 or a marxwoman, and they're teaching children, especially with young children, 249 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:24.360 there's so much to be focused on, and oh suddenly 250 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:27.600 a teacher is going to be you know, dirty Harry 251 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:28.919 shooting the shooter. 252 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:31.919 Like it doesn't make sense in my head, but this 253 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:33.240 is like it's a dog. 254 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.360 So the kids will be like, oh, there's a you know, 255 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:37.679 like you said, it's a mascot. It's a pet for them. 256 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.039 But it's also doing an incredible job. So it's just 257 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:44.200 like you know, you said, you've been around since twenty eighteen. 258 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:47.039 I almost feel like, woof, like eureka, why wasn't this 259 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:49.600 thought of, you know, years and years ago, because it 260 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:52.080 seems like it's such an easy solution. 261 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:54.679 You know it is, And I think a lot of 262 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.320 it is just the getting one the word out that 263 00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:58.960 we exist. 264 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:00.879 Sure too, there. 265 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:04.039 Is some like, you know, oh, this dog's only here. 266 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:06.799 You know, there's a certain stereotype inside schools that hey, 267 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:09.639 you know, this is a drug dog and this is 268 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:11.960 you know, to get kids in trouble, and our dogs 269 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:13.879 aren't made to get kids in trouble and need to 270 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:14.559 keep them safe. 271 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:15.279 See exactly. 272 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:19.639 A lot of the political outlook on what we're doing is, oh, 273 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:22.840 you know, you're bringing in this dogs to find drugs 274 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:25.399 and to remove students from school. And you know, you 275 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:27.679 have to reset that a lot in the mentality that 276 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:29.919 we have right now. And you said it, you know, 277 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.559 let's talk about arming teachers. My mom was a school 278 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:34.559 teacher for thirty two years, and I can only imagine 279 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.679 if somebody said, you know, to arm her. 280 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:39.720 Right exactly. It's just so it's ridiculous to me. 281 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:42.279 I'm sorry, it just, you know, like a teacher's job 282 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:47.279 is hectic and is exactly is to educate, not to 283 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:50.559 play police officer. Like it just doesn't make sense. And 284 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.159 every time I hear it, I'm like, you got to 285 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.399 be kidding me. You know, they don't need another, you know, 286 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:58.879 another thing to take on, especially with little kids, because 287 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:01.679 that's like a you know. So I just feel like 288 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:05.039 this is such a win win. Okay, so more process. 289 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:08.519 If a school is listening right now and is interested, 290 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:12.399 So I assume that there's a cost to this, correct 291 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:15.960 to the training and to Okay, so let's talk about 292 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.559 that a little bit. 293 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:19.799 Yeah, absolutely, so to discuss the cost. So for right 294 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:23.159 around thirty thousand dollars is our total cost for the dog, 295 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:27.840 the full training, the certification, training for the handler, for 296 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:30.879 us to actually deliver the dogs. So we don't let 297 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:33.120 the handle leave with the dog. After their training, they 298 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:35.600 normally fly back to their school and then a few 299 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:37.799 days later we drive the dog to them with a 300 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:40.320 team of two or three people and we go through 301 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:43.559 the gunfired rules on their school campus. We have the 302 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:46.519 assemblies with kids, so we spend two to three weeks 303 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:50.240 on ground at their school to make sure they're good. 304 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:55.399 In addition, they have everything they need from day one. 305 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.519 They don't have to go out and go to a 306 00:14:57.559 --> 00:15:02.080 pet store or go on Amazon and find anything for 307 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:05.039 that dog. When they leave us and we deliver that dog, 308 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:11.279 the dog has callers, best, great pinnels, right, dog food. 309 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:13.559 I mean, they've got a clean bill of health from 310 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:13.960 the deck. 311 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.480 Sure. 312 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:17.679 Now what's also nice is we guarantee our dogs for 313 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:22.039 five year workability automatically. So for some reason, four years 314 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.399 and three hundred and sixty two days later, your dog 315 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.519 decides he doesn't want to or hear she does not 316 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:30.240 want to work anymore and scared a gun fire, we 317 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:33.200 will actually replace that dog free of charge. 318 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:35.320 Wow, okay, yeah, I mean because yeah, that. 319 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.320 Dog, Yeah, ever killed in the line of duty, we 320 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:40.600 replaced that dog one hundred percent. It could be year 321 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:43.799 seven Meadows in year seven. Now, if Metal would get 322 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:46.080 hurt or injured and killed in the line of duty, 323 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:49.039 we will replace Meadows one hundred percent free of charge, 324 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.240 no cost to the district. 325 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.159 Right right now, you. 326 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:55.279 Look at that absolutely so thirty thousand dollars over the 327 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:57.879 life span of the dog. You know, we're seeing these 328 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:00.440 dogs you know, Meadow's going to retire. She's going to 329 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:04.240 be nine, right, because when we first started the program, 330 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.919 that was the dog we got I think the dog 331 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:07.840 was probably I think Metal was about two when we 332 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:10.639 actually implemented her into the program, right, right, So this 333 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:14.039 is her seventh school year, so she's good. She's either nine, 334 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.399 are going to be nine? I can't remember. 335 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.399 Yeah, yeah, she's. 336 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.120 Yeah, it's time for her to retire and just enjoy 337 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.759 the rest of her life exactly. 338 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:23.279 Yeah, so that's kind of how our program works. 339 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:25.559 Yeah, No, I think it's I think it's wonderful and 340 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:28.240 I mean, of course, and it's also you know, when 341 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.399 you think about thirty thousand dollars, but you think about 342 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:32.879 how many kids are in the school, and you know, 343 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:37.039 for school to do the division, and what the protection 344 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:39.320 is and over the years and how many years, I mean, 345 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.720 it just comes out to not really that much money 346 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:43.080 when you think about it that way. 347 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:46.879 Absolutely, And we you know, whenever Metal went in, we 348 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:50.120 looked at, okay, what's the cost look like it? You know, yearly, 349 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:52.639 that cost is you know, right around twenty five hundred bucks. 350 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.440 That's the certification, the vet care, the dog food, right, 351 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.159 you know, so and you kept paradox of putting another 352 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:01.679 officer on campus where you know you're going to be 353 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:06.079 at fifty sixty seventy depending on the school year, school district, right, 354 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:09.000 fifty sixty seventy thousand dollars a year for that officer 355 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.720 plus health benefits four oh one K workers' compensation. Day 356 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:16.359 are vacation. The dog doesn't take vacation. The dogs always 357 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:18.039 seem to work because this is what the dogs love 358 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.000 to do, exactly. 359 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.000 That's right. 360 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:22.240 There's no sick days. I mean, for the most part, 361 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.599 the dog's there every day of the school year without 362 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:26.559 too much, and you don't have the gripe of it 363 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:28.640 of the dog. The dog just loves it being there 364 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:31.319 and interacting. And you know, we make sure before that 365 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:34.400 dog's employed that he's got that social ability so he knows, hey, 366 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.400 every day, this is what I get to do. Right, 367 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:38.640 And most of our dogs enjoy that aspect of what 368 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.000 they do. 369 00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:41.480 Yeah, for sure, I mean that's the that's the basics 370 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:44.640 about dogs. They love having a job. So you know, 371 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:48.640 all these dogs have a job. I just think it's 372 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.880 such a wonderful program. It just seems so it seems 373 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:54.319 so simple. You know, when you when you break it 374 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:59.319 down and you you have services for dogs throughout the country. 375 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.640 Correct, Like, if somebody's. 376 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:04.079 Listening right now in you know, North Carolina, they can 377 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:05.720 reach out to you and say, hey, I have a 378 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.119 you know, I work, I have a school in North Carolina. 379 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:11.839 Absolutely. As I said before, we were actually in Florida, Tennessee, 380 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:15.839 New Jersey, Ohio. Four dogs are now. No, that's talking 381 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.599 about anywhere in the country. We can supply the doll 382 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.319 you know, it may take us a little bit longer 383 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:22.720 drive than like California or something, but you know, we 384 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.759 always hand deliver the dolls. We never put them in 385 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:27.000 a crate or throw them on a plane because you know, 386 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:29.559 we want to make sure they are safely and sure 387 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.200 to drive there without a problem. 388 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:34.319 Wow, this is fascinating and it's just I think it's 389 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:37.000 just so wonderful. So Brandon, So the purpose of this 390 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:39.880 of our discussion is to get people to be aware 391 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:43.119 of school dogs. So I know, because you have a 392 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:46.759 great website that explains everything out. Uh So for someone 393 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.920 who's listening, who is you know, works in a school 394 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:53.359 or a school district or a council, you should go 395 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:55.960 You can go to school. And that's s k o 396 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:59.599 o ldogs dot com. Uh is it better for them 397 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:02.640 to go through your website or to call or both either? 398 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.960 What's the best way? 399 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:06.680 You know? Either works. I always like to direct some 400 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:08.920 people to our website. The reason is there's a lot 401 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.400