THOMASVILLE —
Ben, a pale-yellow Labrador retriever, discovers illegal drugs by day and lulls little girls to sleep at night.
The canine has completed training to become a drug-seeking officer with the Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division.
His handler and trainer is Alvin Hughes, a drug agent. Ben lives with the Hughes family.
“The handler and the dog have a bond,” Hughes explained.
A drug agent since 2009, Hughes is employed by Thomasville Police Department, which he joined in 1998.
Ben was a military working dog at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. “They donated him to us,” Hughes said.
Bred in Germany, Ben was purchased by the Air Force for $5,000.
Six or seven other dogs were looked at before Ben was chosen because of his excellent work drive.
Hughes demonstrated Ben’s work drive Wednesday morning on Jail-Justice Center grounds. The officer pretended to throw Ben’s toy, but hid it behind his back.
See Thursday's edition for more details.
Local News
Related Photos
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With handler/trainer Alvin Hughes, a drug agent, nearby, Ben alerts and scratches on a pickup truck in which there is a bag of marijuana. Patti Dozier/Time-Enterprise
August 8, 2012
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