SAN ANTONIO – For the past 10 years Ray Nunez, co-owner of Universal K9, has been training dogs to protect and serve.
Nunez's canines are trained to sniff out drugs and weapons. He is also certified in training dogs to detect explosives, arson and cadavers along with mines.
Nunez has been training dogs for law enforcement and the military.
Now he is training dogs to help families in need.
Nunez said he wants to help parents confront their kids who could possibly being hiding drugs or weapons in the home or their vehicles.
He said he wants to do it confidentially.
"We want to help them out in finding the drugs for them and dispose of it in a way where it doesn't go on their record (and) it doesn't go and ruin the rest of their life," Nunez said.
Nunez, who has already helped a few families since branching out earlier this year, said his dogs sniff out an area in the house.
If they smell drugs, the parents must finish the search.
Nunez said he would not touch the drugs -- only watch to see that they are disposed of properly.
Nunez did say that if more than a "user amount" is found, then they are obligated to report it to the authorities.
Nunez said his main goal is to expose the problem, "to open peoples' eyes and make them understand that there is a problem out there."
Nunez said he has even helped out local law enforcement. He his dog searched a house instead of the municipal department, which would have used up valuable manpower.
"It's a way to help them out, as well," Nunez said.