****************************************************
Diva, Max, Jed and Sunny are no ordinary dogs. They patrol Hong Kong's major land border crossings to ensure returning travellers carrying raw meat with them will not go unchecked.
They are the quarantine detector dogs of the Quarantine Detector Dog Unit of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The unit was set up to combat illegal import of raw meat, poultry and game in February 2008.
The canine detectives work around six hours daily. They usually work in pairs to check travellers' luggage. Since February 2009, they have also carried out vehicle searches at Man Kam To Control Point.
"The four detector dogs came from Sydney, Australia, and were selected by the local professional dog trainers. Detector dogs have to be docile and good natured, and with sensitive scenting ability.
"Our dog handlers received basic training with the detector dogs in Australia for two weeks and then 11-week hands-on training in Hong Kong, so that the dogs could get used to the local weather and environment," said Miss Edith Ching, Field Officer I of the Centre.
Dog handlers not only train their detector dogs and carry out duties with them, but also take care of their daily life, such as walking the dogs, brushing their hair, bathing them, clipping their nails, applying flea repellent and conducting basic health checks on them. The dogs' diet will also be monitored to prevent obesity.
Detector dogs are fun to work with. "Diva likes looking for live creatures like frogs and snails, which is a beagle's nature. One day when Diva was working, she was attracted to a traveller's luggage and kept following the traveller nervously. We thought that the traveller was carrying a lot of raw meat, but it turned out to be live frogs!" said Miss Fanny Law (Field Officer II), Diva's handler.
"Detector dogs' performance can be affected by things like a new environment and hot weather. Therefore they need to be trained from time to time in different ways and under different conditions so as to strengthen their adaptability and concentration at work," Miss Ching added.
She reminded people not to touch or take photos with the adorable and docile detector dogs when they come across them at the border crossings. They require a great deal of concentration when performing their duties and people should avoid disturbing them.
According to Miss Ching, beagles can usually work until they are ten years of age and labradors up to eight years. The detector dogs working for CFS now are expected to work for about four to six more years.
She said that the four dog handlers had planned to adopt their canine partners after they retired. If they somehow fail to do so, she will take them all back home.
"Leaving them is the last thing I want," she smiled.
Facts and figures
-----------------
* From January 2009 to February 2010, the detector dogs found 225 travellers bringing raw meat into the territory illegally.
*From February 2009 to February 2010, the detector dogs searched around 217 trucks, mostly trucks delivering vegetables. No illegal import of raw meat was found.
* A light uniform made of breathable material was adopted, so that the public can identify the detector dogs easily. The uniform does not hinder the detector dog's movements and it does not feel uncomfortable wearing it.
Ends/Friday, April 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:31
NNNN