Pets on Patrol
For thousands of years dogs have enriched our lives
with their unparalleled loyalty, love, and companionship. Since 1956 they have
also protected us—as more than a barking alarm for strangers at our door, but
as four-legged federal agents. The Bureau of
Furry
Federal Agents
Top dogs help keep
By
Heather Davis
they
may not be carrying guns (they do have little “badges” – ID tags around their
necks), these canine agents are critical team members, intercepting an
estimated 75,000 illegal and prohibited packages each year. The program, which
began in 1984 at
The Beagle Brigade
Beagles
are naturally sociable, smart, and inquisitive, and have a keen sense of smell
which makes them ideal for agriculture detection. “We like using beagles
because of their personality and friendliness,” says Paula Keicer, a CBP Public
Affairs Specialist. “They’re small and cute and are not feared by the public,
so it’s easy to bring them into crowded airport environments,” she adds.
According to APHIS, Beagles work well because they are also among the
healthiest of all dog breeds, and they’re patient, courageous, and obedient.
They travel well and are equally content both indoors and out. Best of all,
they are highly motivated by food, which facilitates training. “We like to
begin training at about a year old,” Keicer says. New dogs, which are typically
recruited through breeders and animal shelters, undergo temperament testing to
determine their eligibility for training. Those that don’t qualify are put up for
adoption, while those that fit the bill head to the USDA’s
Once
a detection hound begins work, he spends his days sniffing out baggage, mail,
and cargo in order to detect prohibited fruits, plants, and meat that could
contain harmful pests and diseases. “These dogs perform a very critical job,” Keicer
notes. “Prohibited items can allow diseases such as ‘foot and mouth’ into our
country, as well as dangerous pests, all of which can cost the agriculture
industry billions of dollars to eradicate.” Amazingly, these elite hounds have
proven their ability to identify up to 50 distinct odors. Upon detection, the dog
sits to alert his human partner who then checks the package and confiscates any
prohibited items. A food reward is then offered to his canine colleague who of
course is just happy to be active and out in the world.
“Threats
to our country can come in many forms. Threats to agriculture from harmful
pests and diseases are real and costly. Our detector dogs are an important tool
in meeting the challenge to reduce those threats,” says CBP Commissioner Robert
C. Bonner. “That’s why it’s so important to make sure [items that might carry
such disease] do not cross into the
Bonner
adds.
The
Beagles do an excellent job of preventing that from happening. In 2003 alone
they cleared 50,013 flights, and inspected 30,712 vehicles and more than 8 million
passengers. The dogs typically work six to nine years before retiring to a life
of leisure. In most cases, they’re adopted by their partners as permanent
members of the family.
Border Patrol, Immigration & U.S. Customs Canines Assigned
to more than 73 ports of entry and 82 Border Patrol stations throughout the United States,
these crucial canines help
combat terrorist threats as well as contraband and concealed persons at the country’s borders, land
ports, seaports, and
international mail facilities. They help save time considering a detector dog can examine a vehicle in
five to six minutes, while a
human officer inspection can take more than 20 minutes. The dogs also check packages quicker than
mail examiners— which
saves the government time, money, and staff. While the dogs spend most of their time working
at interior stations and outdoor
checkpoints, they are trained to perform in a wide variety of environments.
With
more than 1,000 teams working six-hour shifts, these pawed protectors are
integral to keeping
The contribution of these dogs extends beyond protection. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) Canines are highly specialized units capable of
responding to emergencies such as off-leash searches through rugged, difficult
landscapes. Once they have located a missing person they return to their
handlers, leading them back to the site. These amazing dogs are trained to
operate in a variety of extreme weather conditions and terrains, and all teams
are required to complete training in rappelling, helicopter, and boat operations.
In 2001, BORSTAR
Canines tracked more than 130 undocumented aliens and rescued 26
missing persons.
Most of the fur-clad helpers are found at animal shelters and
rescue leagues, although some are also privately donated. In 1998, CBP also
established a breeding program to provide additional dogs to the program. Once
a dog has passed temperament testing, he is sent for training at one of two
facilities: the
The programs favor sporting breeds such as Labrador Retrievers,
Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, and
English Beagles, due to their retrieval instincts and active nature. Above all,
though, the most important selection factor is personality. “The dog has to display
enthusiasm toward retrieving an object, and they have to be eager to learn and
perform,” Keicer says. “We have some mixed breeds that work very well because
they have that type of disposition,” she says.
Like their Beagle Brigade counterparts, the BORSTAR members tend
to work six to eight years, before retiring to a life of leisure with their
guardians.
Every day, the members of CBP canine programs prove that dogs are
not only our best friends, but also important guardians of our national safety
and security. They are the cream of the crop, and we recognize them for their
hard work and dedication.
For more information, check out the CBP
website at www.cbp.gov.
On the Home Front:
Chicago ’s Police Canine Unit
Federal canine agents aren’t the only pooches fighting crime. The
75 remarkable dogs that form the Chicago Police Canine Unit work hard to keep
the city and its citizens safe. Trained in human and narcotics detection as well
as tracking and locating, these top-notch canines do everything from
apprehending burglars and searching vehicles to finding lost children. It’s a
job that not only requires a lot of brawn, but a lot of brains as well.
“We’re going for smarter dogs
nowadays,” says Sergeant Mark Fortuna, the Canine Training Supervisor at the
Due to
The dogs typically begin
training at 1 year old (and preferably no older than 2), and many work to the
ripe age of 10 or even 12. Fortuna admits that it’s not all work though.
Handlers and their dogs tend to form deep bonds over time. For more
information, contact the Police Canine Unit at (847) 827-1520.
