K-9 Pays Visit to Infant Jesus of Prague School

Humans have 5,000,000 olfactory cells in their noses. Dual-purpose dogs have 250,000,000 olfactory cells. Officer Prater of the Country Club Hills Police Department said, “This dog does his job by using his sense of smell.”

Those facts were a fraction of what 3rd grade students at Infant Jesus of Prague School learned during the visit from the officer and his partner, Marco the dog. 3rd grade teachers, Ms. Charlotte Kelly and Ms. Sharon Jelinek organized the multidimensional lesson. Students were inquisitive and asked multiple questions to Officer Prater.

Aubrey Mandichak inquired, “What exactly is the purpose of this dog?”

Officer Prater replied, “Marco is a dual-purpose dog. That means that he is trained in general patrol duties and detection of street drugs.”

Carter Maclin voiced his concern, “How high can he jump?”

Prater stated, “The dog can jump a 6-foot fence.”

The presence and intensity of the dual-purpose K-9 was evident, although Marco took a moment for the students to pet him during the presentation.