(CN) Centre to train detector dogs

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China Daily http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2002-06-15/73917.html

(ZHAO HUANXIN)

06/15/2002

 

Quarantine authorities are considering launching a national training base

for detector dogs in Beijing after a test batch of sniffing dogs proved

effective at barking pests and diseases out of the country.

Four detector dogs were deployed in January at the Beijing International

Airport for the first time in China. Since then they have sniffed 1,254

kilograms of fruit, meat and other products in quarantine that are forbidden

to be carried into China, the Beijing Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine

Agency said yesterday.

 

After passing assessment from an expert panel on Thursday, officials said

the dogs' work could be expanded in other areas of the country to help

protect the country against pests and diseases from goods in quarantine.

 

The ever-increasing number of passengers and cargoes coming into China has

prompted China to employ every possible means to improve quarantine and

inspection and to ensure the safety of its people and animal husbandry,

according to Beijing experts.

 

The dogs are a good supplement to other quarantine methods such as X-ray

machines and passenger declaration forms, said Dong Jingmin from the Beijing

agency.

 

" They can even play an irreplaceable role in inspecting some key flights and

special passengers, " he said.

 

The country has no facilities yet to train quarantine detector dog handlers

and build up dog teams.

 

Wei Chuanzhong, director of the Beijing quarantine agency, said they will

work to construct one.

 

" The Beijing agency will step up preparations to build the quarantine

detector dog training base for quarantine agencies across the country, " said

the official.

 

The current four Labrador retrievers drafted by the Beijing agency were

trained by the China Military Dog Breeding and Training Centre at the

People's Liberation Army last year, he said.

 

They have provided a highly effective quarantine barrier against otherwise

invading and destructive pests, vegetables, plant material, meat products,

eggs, birds and reptiles, agency officials said.

 

However, the officials did not give a date for the construction of the

training centre.