THE UK's first-ever detector dogs trained to sniff out imports of meat, fish and other animal products at ports and airports were star attractions at their passing out parade at the Metropolitan Police Dog Training Centre in Keston, Kent, this week.
The two male Labradors have completed their initial training along with their handlers, who are employed as animal health officers at DEFRA. As part of a pilot study, the dogs will, over the next few months, be stationed at Heathrow Airport, for further on the job training. DEFRA describes them as "a first line of defence preventing and detecting illegal imports of meat at commercial and personal points of entry".
Updated: 09:17 Thursday, August 01, 2002
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