Homewood Police to host canine trials

If you stop by West Homewood Park Sept. 15-17, you will see more dogs than you might normally. 

Homewood Police Department is hosting police canine trials that provide certification required annually for dogs to work with departments. Around 20 dogs from Alabama, southern Tennessee and west Georgia will be participating.

As a part of the trials, judges will test dogs’ obedience, agility and other traits. The canines must complete a series of eight obstacles, a search for small artciels such as keys and credit cards, a suspect search and criminal apprehension. On the final day they will search vehicles and buildings for bombs and narcotics.

All events begin at 8:30 a.m., and Canine Officer Keith Smith, who works with dog Shiloh, said the public is welcome to watch.