Las Vegas - K-9 patrols in hotels?

I've never seen this before.

Both the Wynn and the Venetian have canine patrols -- dogs with handlers roaming the casinos.

Do they know something we don't?

patrols, as opposed to searches etc? what kind of hours?

patrols, as opposed to searches etc? what kind of hours?I have no idea. I just saw uniformed security guards (not police -- these were hotel security staff) leading German Shepards wearing a "K9 Patrol" harness around the casino.

Wynn has a team of bomb-sniffing dogs. They've been there since the casino opened; the handlers are Wynn employees and ran around the property a lot pre-opening.

I think I read in a paper that Venetian was going to follow their lead, but am not aware if they have.

hard rock also has one

Apparently there was, or maybe there still is, a verified threat of terrorism to Las Vegas casinos which is why many casinos have mindless security procedures such as vehicle checkpoints.

The dogs are almost certainly for explosives, but the best rumor I've heard is that the casino dogs are there to detect heroin.

Apparently there was, or maybe there still is, a verified threat of terrorism to Las Vegas casinos which is why many casinos have mindless security procedures such as vehicle checkpoints.

The dogs are almost certainly for explosives, but the best rumor I've heard is that the casino dogs are there to detect heroin.Interesting. I'd sure like to know more about the threat. It strikes me that the casinos would have little interest in over-response to the usual DHS scare tactics, so I'm curious about the threat.

the only thing i can think of is that the poochies are drug sniffers and either looking to pick up scent on the players themselves or perhaps the currency they are carrying. yeah it's a (big) stretch but it wouldn't surprise me

The Hard Rock has been doing this for quite a number of years. As far as I can tell, they're primarily drug sniffing dogs, which is funny to watch at the Hard Rock.

As far as I can tell, they're primarily drug sniffing dogs

Is this to prevent a different sort of "dealing" on the casino floor? Seems like the casino would probably be willing to turn a blind eye if their paying customers had some in the room. Not sure how much of a customer base HRH would have if they forbade drug use ;)

A few years ago I worked at Wynn and struck up a conversation with a dog handler. The dogs were trained in explosives detection. At the time there was no specific threat (at least that is what we were told) just that the type of clientelle that Wynn is aiming for expects higher standards of security. Being that Vegss is a "what are you doing for me now" kind of a town it does not surprise me that other properties followed his lead.

The notion that some people think these are drug sniffing dogs is kind of amusing to me. The properties really don't care what goes on behind closed doors just as long as you show up on the casino floor to make a donation.

Yes, a number of hotels in the Las Vegas area do have dogs for patrol & detection. Some are explosive detection, some are actual "police patrol" trained, there are even a few dogs that are trained to detect bed bugs.
As for "usual DHS scare tactics", that's a very uninformed statement to make. Just this morning an IED was set off at a Starbucks in NYC "http://cbs13.com/national/ied.explosion.starbucks.2.1018367.html". There are many threats that are real that you just don't hear about for good reason. Yes, we do hear about some threats that the general public doesn't, we are here to help make your visit safe and enjoyable.

As to the comment "they aren't police, they are Security", you are correct. Keep in mind, that is something happens at any of the Strip properties, Security is going to be the first responders to help you, not the police. I am one of these Security Handlers you all comment about. We train with our partners constantly. We train with ATF, Las Vegas Metro Police, etc. We are at the hotels to help insure YOUR safety.

Does it matter to us if you bring some illegal substance to your suite, we'd rather you didn't, but you are suspose to be adults, not that many of you act like it.

As to the comment about Wynn being the first hotel to have K9, false. Actually it was the Stratosphere that had the first K9...

And regarding the "hours they work", they are all 24hour K9 programs, what a silly question. For obvious reasons, we don't discuss everything about what the dogs can and can not do.