Jenny, a drug-sniffing Labrador retriever with the Georgia Counterdrug Task Force, proved recently that she not only has a nose for illegal drugs but also the talent for entertaining.

Jenny’s high energy, coupled with her easy-going personality made her an instant hit with the fifth grade students at Holly Springs Elementary School. While it was this canine anti-drug agent’s first demonstration, this is the detection teams third annual visit to Holly Springs. During such events team members inform students of the consequences of drug use and abuse.

Jenny and her handler excited Cathy Harrison’s three fifth grade science classes, Curry-Davis said. Harrison knew about the K-9 team because of her husband, Master Sgt. Ray Harrison, who works the logistics side of Counterdrug. Before Jenny began her drug search demonstration, her handler talked about the work he and Jenny do in the fight against illegal drugs. The handler also brought out several pieces of equipment for the students to see. One youngster, Curry-Davis said, modeled a bulletproof vest with matching holster and helmet. Several others frantically volunteered to be the first to try on the handcuffs, an extremely popular activity among the students, Curry-Davis said. When the students weren’t "ooohing and ahhhing" they were asking questions about the military Jenny and police work, she said.

After the equipment had been put away and the children settled into positions around the classroom, Jenny and her handler demonstrated how they go about finding illegal drugs. Students in each of the three classes found it quite entertaining each time Jenny found the handler’s "training aid" in Harrison’s desk, Curry-Davis said. Harrison endured a bit of teasing from her charges afterward, Curry-Davis said.

After the classroom demonstrations ended, Jenny and her handler accepted an invitation by the students to enjoy recess with them. When the time came for Jenny to return to her kennel, she and her handler received an invitation by the fifth-graders to visit again next year.

Several of Harrison’s students offered their opinions of the visit shortly before Jenny and her handler left Holly Springs. One student said, "…You gave me a good idea about what I want to be when after I finish high school." Another said, "Maybe I could be the dog police person someday."

About the equipment and demonstration one fifth-grader said, "It was cool to know how much science is used for drug finding." A fellow student said, "I liked trying on your equipment…that was awesome."