How long has the Customs Service been using dogs to search for dangerous drugs?
Detector dogs were introduced on a wide scale in September 1970 as part of a major effort to interdict narcotics being smuggled through major air/sea and land border ports. How are detector dogs used? Teams consisting of a dog and officer are used to screen arriving aircraft, cargo, baggage, mail, ships, vehicles, and passengers. What kinds of dogs are used for this work? Customs uses a wide variety of dogs including Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German Shepherds, Brittany spaniels, German short-hair pointers, and mixed breeds. Dogs used by Customs can be of either sex and must be between 1 and 3 years of age. How does Customs obtain its dogs? Dogs that are selected for training are obtained from animal shelters and rescue leagues, primarily in the eastern and Midwestern part of the United States. Many of these dogs are unadoptable and would have to be destroyed. Dogs, meeting the entrance qualifications, are also taken as donations from private owners. Some dogs are purchase
