LEBANON — Warren County Sheriff Tom Ariss is taking a rent-a-dog approach to crime-sniffing canines.

        County Commissioners recently authorized the sheriff to pay $10,000 to a Wilder, Ky., company for dogs and canine handlers to help detect explosive devices and contraband.

        “Circumstances since (Sept. 11) are making us more aware of possibilities,” Sheriff Ariss said, noting that the county received a bomb threat at its courts building on Justice Drive the day after the World Trade Center attack.

        In that incident, the building was evacuated while deputies waited hours for a police dog from the Ohio State Highway Patrol to be brought from Columbus, he said.

        The rented canines will be used for bomb detection as well as investigative searches of automobiles, cars and possibly the jail for drugs and other contraband.

        While several local police agencies routinely make their drug dogs available to other departments at no cost, Sheriff Ariss said the contract with Pursuing Other Interests assures that the specialized canines are there whenever needed.

        The one-year contract with Pursuing Other Interests Inc. calls for one dog and one handler to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

        In addition to the county's $10,000 charge, the sheriff has agreed to pay the company $350 an hour for emergency calls to detect explosives and $150 an hour when the service is performed as a precaution.

        Contraband detection is $100 an hour, according to the contract. Company officials could not be reached.

        Sheriff Ariss said renting the service will help him determine whether it's worth buying a police dog for the department in the long run.

        Police canines typically cost up to $10,000 to buy and train for law enforcement work.

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