Dogs and COVID Preventions : Short Wave : NPR | #coronavirus | #kids. | #children | #schools

K-9 Officer Teddy Santos watches Huntah as she checks a classroom at Freetown Elementary School. If she detects COVID, she will sit.

Jodi Hilton for NPR

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Jodi Hilton for NPR

K-9 Officer Teddy Santos watches Huntah as she checks a classroom at Freetown Elementary School. If she detects COVID, she will sit.

Jodi Hilton for NPR

A Massachusetts elementary school welcomes “Huntah,” the COVID-sniffing dog. Scientist-in-residence Regina Barber talks with NPR science reporter Ari Daniel about how a specialized K-9 unit is helping keep kids in classrooms.

For more of Ari’s reporting, check out “Dogs trained to sniff out COVID in schools are getting a lot of love for their efforts.”

You can follow Regina on Twitter @ScienceRegina and Ari on Instagram @mesoplodon_. Email Short Wave at ShortWave@NPR.org.

This story was edited by Gabriel Spitzer and Gisele Grayson, Thomas Lu produced the episode, and Rachel Carlson checked the facts.