Dog Stops Smokers From Entering NY Building

November 13, 2008

As a rather fidgety, classic movie loving person, I smoked cigarettes for a brief period many years ago. The very short-lived habit ended one day at Sardi's in New York when, sitting near Broadway star Carol Channing, some fiery ashes fell on my coat and caught it on fire. It's hard to attempt cool small talk while smoke is spewing from your clothing.

Others have struggled with cigarettes too, including president-elect Barack Obama.

Hopefully the forthcoming White House family dog will assist the first lady in keeping Obama cigarette free. One canine is performing similar work in New York at 130 Liberty Street adjacent to the former site of the World Trade Center. As if that area hasn't seen enough horror, last year a fire caused by a cigarette killed two firemen. One, Joseph Graffagnino, was just 33 years old. Many other individuals suffered injuries during the blaze.

To prevent such fires from happening there in future, The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) is taking steps to make sure workers aren't bringing cigarettes into the building. According to several NY media reports, a tobacco-sniffing dog is screening workers as they enter.

"This is just one part of the project team's multifaceted approach to ensuring that all site regulations are strictly followed and enforced," said LMDC spokesman Mike Murphy. So far, no one has been nabbed by the pooch police, so the tactic seems to be working.

Here's something you'll never see in real life:

Comments

[Dogman2]

That video was amazing...It is also amazing just what you can teach a dog to do. So now you have a tobacco sniffing dog, whats next...a dog that can tell if you are telling the truth or lying...Who knows there are some great trainers out there.

[Jen Viegas]

Thanks for stopping by, Dogman2. Your own blog is great. For others reading this, you can check it out at:
whatwouldadogdo.blogspot.com

[GW]

It's amazing how dogs can be trained so specifically! But let me get this straight...They don't allow people to bring their cigarettes into a building now? That seems extreme. Considering how most commute with mass transit, it's not like they can keep their cigarettes in their cars and go out to get them for smoke breaks. I am not a smoker and dislike being anywhere near tobacco smoke, but I see this measure as throwing the baby out with the bathwater. It's too extreme.

[Jen Viegas]

GW, It's my understanding that people can't bring tobacco into the building. A severe measure, as you say. A photo of one of the cigarette-sniffing dogs is at:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11082008/news/regionalnews/dogs_nail_dumb_ashes_137712.htm