The U.S. Secret Service has decided to regularly deploy canine units around the White House for the first time among the general public.
“This is just one of the proactive, visible security methods being utilized,” Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan told a local CBS affiliate Wednesday. The increased security went into effect late last month.
The dogs will be part of patrols along 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, will on the grounds 24 hours a day, although the Secret Service would not tell CBS how many would be deployed.
The dogs that will mingle among tourists will be a variety of non-Malinois breeds due to their temperament, the station reported. Belgian Malinois dogs have been used in the past for being particularly skillful at detecting explosives.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.