New biosecurity puppies need names

New biosecurity puppies need names

Six new home-grown biosecurity beagle puppies could soon be patrolling New Zealand’s borders, and the Ministry for Primary Industries is looking for names for two of them.

The only catch is the names have to begin with “F”, as the puppies are part of “F-litter” – the latest beagle litter to be produced under MPI’s detector dog breeding programme.

Working Auckland biosecurity detector dog Aria gave birth to the pups in May. Watchman, another MPI working dog, is the proud father.

The puppies will shortly leave MPI to go to foster homes to help prepare them for their training ahead. If all goes to plan, they will return to MPI and start formal training in May next year.

MPI has been breeding beagles for 20 years as biosecurity detector dogs. During this time it has produced more than 30 litters, says Brett Hickman, Detection Technology Manager.

“Our MPI-bred beagles have proven themselves as excellent biosecurity detector dogs.

“They are ideally suited to working at airports and ports to sniff out food, plants other items that could pose biosecurity risk to New Zealand.”

MPI is looking for a girl’s name and a boy’s name for the new puppies.

The puppies can be seen on youtube –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DejiCaJi5TQ&feature=youtu.be

ENDS

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