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U.S. Ambassador Presents Detection Dogs

March 12, 2007

Ambassador Austin with dogs and handlers.  Full Size

U.S. Ambassador Dr. Roy L. Austin furnished the Ministry of National Security with four trained detection dogs at a small ceremony at the Chaguaramas Police Canine Academy. The detection dogs had been specially trained at locating various kinds of explosives. The dogs (three golden retrievers and a German shepherd) will be used during the ICC Cricket World Cup to detect possible explosives at its venues.

The three golden retrievers are named Nitro, Sparky and Chad, and the German shepherd is named Ellie. Because of the extensive training invested in the canines, each is assessed at a value of over US$30,000.  The pedigrees of all of the dogs attest to a long line of breeding for detection purposes: several are the offspring of narcotics detection dogs and one is descended from a search-and-rescue dog. They have been entrusted to experienced handlers at the Canine Academy and are fully prepared to patrol the Cricket World Cup venues.

Dogs with their handlers.  Full Size