Buzz: Keep your pets from smoking

DO YOU smoke around your pet? You could be threatening his health and even his life. Secondhand smoke can cause malignant lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs and respiratory problems and allergies in both species, according to studies conducted at Tufts University's School of Veterinary Medicine and other colleges, reports the Associated Press.

A 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's report also warns that animals are at risk from secondhand smoke. Other potential side effects include inflammation and pulmonary cancers.

E-cigarettes aren't any safer. Pets can be poisoned if they eat the nicotine cartridges.

* Dogs are trained to sniff out cancer, explosives, drugs and bedbugs, to name just a few of their scenting skills. Add a new target to the list: hidden memory cards, thumb drives and storage drives that contain child pornography.

Rhode Island state police have the assistance of golden Labrador Thoreau to search out the contraband, which may be hidden deep inside metal boxes or in such areas as ceiling tiles or radios.

Thoreau underwent 22 weeks of training at the Connecticut State Police Training Academy. He participated in his first search in June, which led to an arrest.