USDA detector dog program seeks a few good sniffers
SEPTEMBER 2022
Story Courtesy of Brandpoint Content
Every year, nearly 400,000 shelter dogs are euthanized because of overcrowding and the inability to find them a fur-ever home. Now, many of these pound puppies can have a new lease on life, thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Services’ Detector Dog program.
The National Detector Dog Training Center trains purebred and mixed-breed beagles, Labrador retrievers and Jack Russell terriers to sniff out invasive plant pests and animal diseases that threaten America’s agriculture, food supply and natural resources.
This elite sniffing force and their human handlers undergo eight to 10 weeks of rigorous training before they can graduate from the Detector Dog program and serve their country.
More than 30 canine teams are working in airports, mail facilities and border crossings across the country. Every day, these dogs search, locate and respond to prohibited food, plants and animals harboring damaging insects and harmful diseases.
If you or someone you know would like to donate a dog, reach out to [email protected].
WORKING DOGS
For the past 37 years, the APHIS-trained detector dogs have been working the front lines to keep harmful pests, like the Mediterranean fruit fly, out of the U.S.
While Labrador retrievers and their handlers are protecting our nation’s fruit by patrolling citrus orchards along the Texas-Mexico border in search of infested or diseased crops.
APHIS’ Detector Dog program is not only safeguarding U.S. agriculture and natural resources, but it is also partnering with countries like Canada and Taiwan to supply guidance, training and proof-of-concept testing of canine detection for foreign government support.
There are even Detector Dog teams on the job at cargo airports throughout countries in the Pacific, tasked with identifying invasive species and stopping them from reaching Hawaii.
The work these dogs and their handlers do is critical to help stop the spread of invasive plant and pest diseases that could ravage America’s crops, trees and plants.
WHAT’S NEXT
USDA APHIS wants to grow its fleet of super sniffers and is looking for more dogs to be donated to the program from animal shelters, rescue groups and private owners. To qualify, dogs must be:
• purebred or mixed-breed beagles, Labrador retrievers and Jack Russell terriers;
• 10 months to three years old;
• friendly and in good health;
• have a high food drive;
• no history of aggression.
For more information, visit usda.gov and search for “detector dog training.”