Nestled in the foot hills of the Blue Ridge mountains near Shenandoah National Park, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has an academy for dogs.
At this peaceful — except for the barking — and in the ATF’s term, “pristine” setting, agents train the animals to detect explosives and chemical accelerants used in arson cases.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. watched during a recent exhibition at the facility, as the dogs ran around a large gymnasium-like room, with metal cans and suitcases, some of them with traces of explosives, on the floor.
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