December 15, 2009
Bal Harbour Village Mayor & Council Memers Honored by Metro-Dade Canine Services

Mayor Jean Rosenfield and Village Council Members were honored at the December council meeting by Metro-Dade Canine Services owner/trainer Tony Guzman and his wife Mary when they presented a certificate of appreciation to the Village and police Chief Tom Hunker.

Metro-Dade Canine Services is responsible for importing and training canines for local, state and federal agencies throughout the U.S. and Caribbean countries.

Many police Agencies from Miami-Dade, Monroe and Broward Counties train their canines using Metro-Dade canine's facilities which caused a rapid deterioration of equipment. The Village of Bal Harbour stepped up and provided for the replacement of 56 narcotic scent boxes. The boxes were originally made of wood and rapidly deteriorated due to the weather and the high volume of canines using the boxes. The new boxes will be made out of aluminum and will last forever.

"The narcotic training is just one part of the police canine's overall training," says trainer Tony Guzman. "however, it's the most profitable for the law enforcement agency as many seizures are directly related to drug searches performed by the canines."