Do Dogs Fool People In Epic Murder Trials?

Ann and Lisa discuss the problem of false alerts in scent detection, particularly during cadaver dog searches. People's lives, careers, and peace of mind hang in the balance. What is a "false alert?" How, when, and why do they happen, and whose fault is it? Uncertainty and subjectivity may be hopelessly baked into the human-canine relationship. 

Want to follow up on our sources or watch any of the videos we mention? Go to ThisAnimalLIfe.com and click on Show Notes.  

Balko, Radley, “The Supreme Court’s ‘Alternative Facts’ About Drug-Sniffing Dogs,” Opinion, Washington Post, February 2019.

Bianca Jones article, “Father Convicted of Murdering his 2-Year-Old Daughter 6 Years Ago Says She’s Still Alive,” by Kevin Deitz, Click-On Detroit, January 2018.

The Bone Room, where you can buy Search and Rescue (SAR) training packets online.

The Bone Room on Science Friday, by Lauren Young, October 2018.

“Brief Supplementing Motions to Exclude Unreliable Dog Sniff Evidence,” People of the State of Colorado V. Mark Allen Redwine.

“Cadaver Dog Experts Take Stand in Redwine Trial,” Fox31 News, by Nicole Fierro, July 6, 2021.

Cadaver Dog handler of Molly recounts “strongest alert ever” by Dave Minsky, Lompoc Record, August 11, 2021. 

Cadaver dog as “junk science,” Patty Neiberg, “Colorado father convicted of killing his 13-year-old son,”  AP News, July 16, 2021.

“Casey Anthony Trial Raises Questions About Cadaver Dogs,” Ed. Colin Miller, EvidenceProf Blog, University of South Carolina School of Law, Law Professor Blogs Network, June 2011.

Chris Lambert’s podcast about Kristin Smart, Your Own Backyard 

Derr, Mark, “With Dog Detectives, Mistakes Can Happen,” NYTimes, December 2002.

“The Disappearance of Kristin Smart: What Happened and What’s Next,” by Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, September 8, 2021.

“Dog Handler Sentenced for Planting Fake Evidence,” Chicago Tribune, September 2004. 

“Effect of Handler Knowledge of the Detection Task on Canine Search Behavior and Performance,” by DeChant et. al., Frontiers in Veterinary Science, May 2020.

“Handler beliefs affect scent detection dog outcomes,” by Lisa Lit, et. al, National Center for Biotechnology Information, January 2011.

“How to Train a Cadaver Dog,” by Malia Wollen, NYTimes, June 2015.

Redwine case & cadaver dogs, Allison Sylte, 9News, July 6, 2021.

Warren, Cat, What the Dog Knows, Touchstone, October 2013.