Shelter Dogs Accepted Into National Detector Training Program

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Woodstock, GA -- Cherokee County Animal Shelter was honored this year with certificates of appreciation from the United States Department of Agriculture, as three dogs at the facility were accepted into the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s National Detector Dog Training Center.

Dogs allocated to the program, which is based in Newnan, are put through rigorous testing and assessments to qualify as training candidates. The dogs admitted must possess the following characteristics: self-confidence, soundness, high food drive, sociability and adaptability.

The USDA accepts shelter dogs who fit the specific behavior profile to create a large group of detector dog candidates. The dogs accepted into the program are trained to detect pests and diseases on agricultural products.

USDA Detector dog teams are located at all major airports across the United States. Detector dog activities have also been expanded to mail facilities, land border crossings and ports that handle cargo.

Former Cherokee animal shelter dogs Bo and Kirby, both beagles, and Dutton, a chocolate lab, are all waiting for handlers/trainers to be assigned to them to carry out their official duties

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Images via Cherokee County Animal Shelter