I was looking through the FWS press releases the other day and was surprised to learn that the Office of LE finally decide to adopt a K-9 program to help the fight against smuggled wildlife. But was equally as surprising to learn was that the Service did not give credit to the team of dedicated employees who actually proposed and initiated the program in the 1990's at the port of San Diego, California. So, I am posting this video, created in the '90's, to provide factual information of the process which lead to the current program.
I am a former Special Agent with the Service and the founder of the original certified canine detection program. Along with the three wildlife inspectors stationed in San Diego at that time, we worked on our own time to conduct a feasibility study on the use of dogs to detect smuggled wildlife. The proposal was adopted by the Service's Pacific Region (Region 1). The Region funded the program and allowed one of our three inspectors received training along side Canine Mason, a dog we obtained through Guide Dogs of America. Both Mason and his handler passed the course and received certification. Contrary to what is written below, in BOLD PRINT, (taken from the Services Q&A on the new canine program) the canines now being certified through the Agriculture program are not the first FWS LE dogs to receive official certification. Canine mason was certified and recognized throughout the world. In fact, because of the San Diego project, many European countries adopted the program in the 1990's, as well as South Korea, while the FWS decided not to bring on full time handlers. The Service briefly toyed with the idea of bring on part-time handlers.
6. HAS ANYONE ELSE DONE THIS BEFORE?
THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE EXPERIMENTED WITH A SINGLE DOG IN THE MID-1990S, AND HAS DEPLOYED DETECTOR DOGS BORROWED FROM OTHER AGENCIES, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S. THAT WILDLIFE DETECTOR DOGS HAVE UNDERGONE AN INTENSIVE TRAINING REGIMEN AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS LIKE THIS. A FEW OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ASIA HAVE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN PLACE.
All of our finding were well documented and presented to the Service, along with our recommendations for a viable dog program. As I recall, a few of the recommendations we proposed was to use passive alter dogs, as as not to damage personal property. Use a play rewards as opposed to rewarding the dog with food. Make the dog handler position full time, as opposed to shared duties (part time wildlife inspector, part time dog handler.)
My colleagues and I received recognition in the late 1990's from the international wildlife law enforcement community for conceiving the wildlife detection program and were invited to attend the first ever symposium on canine wildlife detection, which took place in Bad Schandau, Germany. Ironically, we have yet to be recognized for our efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement which is fine. We did not undertake the program for recognition. We did it to create an effect tool to help the world find more efficient ways to protect and conserve wildlife. As the new program takes off, I thought it important that history to reflect the truth about the program's origins. If you would like to see footage of the original program, please follow this link: http://youtu.be/a4UWXebCLek
I retired from the Service in 2008 but contined to dedicate the majority of my work towards wildlife conservation. Thus, The Nepal Tiger Project. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. http://nepaltigers.org/donate.html
I am a former Special Agent with the Service and the founder of the original certified canine detection program. Along with the three wildlife inspectors stationed in San Diego at that time, we worked on our own time to conduct a feasibility study on the use of dogs to detect smuggled wildlife. The proposal was adopted by the Service's Pacific Region (Region 1). The Region funded the program and allowed one of our three inspectors received training along side Canine Mason, a dog we obtained through Guide Dogs of America. Both Mason and his handler passed the course and received certification. Contrary to what is written below, in BOLD PRINT, (taken from the Services Q&A on the new canine program) the canines now being certified through the Agriculture program are not the first FWS LE dogs to receive official certification. Canine mason was certified and recognized throughout the world. In fact, because of the San Diego project, many European countries adopted the program in the 1990's, as well as South Korea, while the FWS decided not to bring on full time handlers. The Service briefly toyed with the idea of bring on part-time handlers.
6. HAS ANYONE ELSE DONE THIS BEFORE?
THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE EXPERIMENTED WITH A SINGLE DOG IN THE MID-1990S, AND HAS DEPLOYED DETECTOR DOGS BORROWED FROM OTHER AGENCIES, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S. THAT WILDLIFE DETECTOR DOGS HAVE UNDERGONE AN INTENSIVE TRAINING REGIMEN AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS LIKE THIS. A FEW OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ASIA HAVE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN PLACE.
All of our finding were well documented and presented to the Service, along with our recommendations for a viable dog program. As I recall, a few of the recommendations we proposed was to use passive alter dogs, as as not to damage personal property. Use a play rewards as opposed to rewarding the dog with food. Make the dog handler position full time, as opposed to shared duties (part time wildlife inspector, part time dog handler.)
My colleagues and I received recognition in the late 1990's from the international wildlife law enforcement community for conceiving the wildlife detection program and were invited to attend the first ever symposium on canine wildlife detection, which took place in Bad Schandau, Germany. Ironically, we have yet to be recognized for our efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement which is fine. We did not undertake the program for recognition. We did it to create an effect tool to help the world find more efficient ways to protect and conserve wildlife. As the new program takes off, I thought it important that history to reflect the truth about the program's origins. If you would like to see footage of the original program, please follow this link: http://youtu.be/a4UWXebCLek
I retired from the Service in 2008 but contined to dedicate the majority of my work towards wildlife conservation. Thus, The Nepal Tiger Project. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. http://nepaltigers.org/donate.html
Everest Base Camp luxury Trek provides ample time for important acclimatization. Furthermore, frequent acclimatising gives more chances to enjoy successful treks in the Everest region. A wonderfully scenic flight to one of the world’s highest airstrips – Lukla, opens to an alpine world of exceptional beauty. The air is so pure and colourful prayer flags flutter from rooftops, welcoming you to this sublime region.
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Everest Base Camp luxury Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek
Trekking in Nepal