Descenting systems and methods

A method for training service animals to determine if an ozone-based scent-removal technique has been used to remove scent from contraband, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of packages, at least one of the plurality of packages containing a predetermined amount of a contraband substance;
• disposing an ozone-based scent remover in or near at least one of the plurality of packages;
• dispersing a gaseous stream of descanting material generated by the ozone-based scent remover over the contraband in a concentration sufficient to eliminate the scent;
• introducing a service animal to the plurality of packages;
• rewarding the service animal for the successful detection of the at least one of the plurality of packages containing the ozone-based scent remover using the service animal's olfactory senses.

A method for using a scent elimination device to conceal contraband and then training service animals to determine if an ozone-based scent-removal technique has been used to remove scent from contraband, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of packages, at least one of the plurality of packages containing a predetermined amount of a contraband substance;
• generating a gaseous stream of descenting material, wherein the gaseous stream of descenting material contains ozone;
• dispersing the gaseous stream of descenting material over the contraband, in a concentration sufficient to eliminate the scent, wherein the descented contraband may be placed in an enclosure for transport;
• introducing a service animal to the plurality of packages;
• rewarding the service animal for the successful detection of the at least one of the plurality of packages containing the descenting material using the service animal's olfactory senses.

A method of using a service animal to detect when an ozone-based descenting device is being used to conceal contraband, comprising:

• introducing the service animal to a package;
• having the service animal detect the presence of contraband and ozone using the service animal's olfactory senses and provide an indication that the contraband is present in the presence of ozone;
• confirming the presence of contraband;
• rewarding the service animal.