I think this possible plan is a great idea. The dogs are definitely needed and the research that would result from the program would ultimately benefit all dogs, everywhere. They might even end up putting some shelter dogs to work if they can find ways to identify dogs with the right abilities. Let's hope that the program eventually gets approval.

From the Bucks County Courier Times.

Willow Grove base could go to the dogs
By ERIC WHITE
The Intelligencer

A new kind of animal could be coming to the air base at Willow Grove.

With changes in the Willow Grove base's mission, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard could be losing it A-10 Warthog attack jets.

But with the creation of the joint interagency installation at the base, search and rescue dogs could be coming.

Barry Stupine, vice dean for pubic affairs at the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school, said the university wants to partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to develop a dog breeding and training center.

A proposal for the land at the base, which officials have cautioned is very preliminary, shows a search and rescue dog training center in an open area of the base to the east of the existing runway.

The facility would include 13 acres of training area, several of those sites with bleachers, plus buildings for veterinary care, administration and kennels, a report prepared for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shows.

The school would provide knowledge about genetics and dog physiology to produce a better search and rescue animal.

“We can breed the best dogs in world,” Stupine said.

FEMA and ATF would provide the training, he said.

Officials at the federal agencies did not return several calls for comment. However, according to a FEMA Web site, “Training requirements are intensive, to say the least. In addition to being an emergency medical technician, each task force member must complete hundreds of hours of training. Specialties such as K-9 search, rescue, and rigging carry their own training requirements.”

The U.S. needs more detective dogs, Stupine said. Most agencies buy from Europe now.

Stupine said Penn Vet has passed the threshold of the start up phase, and now is looking into getting funding.

Dr. Cindy Otto, one of the veterinarians working on the proposal, said the operating costs are projected to be between $3 million and $3.5 million per year. That's not including construction of the facilities. The goal is to generate about 70 dogs within five years, then continue to breed and train about the same number each year.

There would be about 70 to 100 dogs at the base at one time and about 45 to 50 people working at the center. That would include specialists in breeding, training and rehabilitation and administrative workers, Otto said.

Teams would be ready to respond to emergencies, flying out from the airstrip at the base.

During the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, there were only about 180 dogs trained to FEMA's standards.

The dogs now coming from Europe are not always the healthiest animals, Otto said.

In 2006, Warminster had to return had to return three German shepherds that were guaranteed to come from “the finest European bloodlines.”

Although she doesn't envision the program providing dogs for police patrol work, the center could help police with their detection dogs. Local K-9 teams would have access to rehab facilities at the site.

Penn hopes to improve on FEMA's standards.

Dogs would be bred for detecting smells, but the program would also look into exercise and nutrition, said Otto.

Right now, Labrador retrievers are the standard breed to start with, but Otto said research into what characteristics make the best dogs could also be applied to shelter dogs.

If researchers can identify the best dog they can potentially go into shelters and identify dogs that wouldn't make good pets but could be good search and rescue dogs.

“We could put them to work and they'd be happier,” she said

In addition to finding explosives and drugs, Otto said Penn hoped to break new ground with trying to detect disease in livestock.

Using dogs' incredible ability to detect minute scents, threats in the food supply could be discovered, she said.

Local people would have a chance to interact with the dogs when they are young, said both Otto and Stupine. While the dogs are still pups, they could be raised in local homes to socialize them. Dogs have also been raised in prison programs, Otto said.

“We want to end up with a dog that's healthy, sound and can operate at the best level long term, doing jobs which they love, by the way,” said Otto

The project is still preliminary. Penn is gathering people together and working to get an advisory board together.

The school has been in contact with Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Patrick Murphy to try to generate funding for the project.

Back in 2002 or 2003 Gail Smith, another veterinarian at Penn, and Otto put together a similar proposal, but it didn't go anywhere, mostly because they didn't have space identified in which to do it. When the opportunity to use space at Willow Grove came up, they started again.

“I'm really excited this might become a reality. It's been dream for a long time,” said Otto.

Depending on the size of the base, in the best case there should be a large area of open space. If Gov. Rendell chooses to use the entire area of the Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base to create the joint interagency installation, space would not be a problem, said Ken Lewko, special assistant to the deputy adjutant general for air.

“If it's a small area, there's not likely much space to support the project,” he said.

Mike McGee, Horsham township manager, said it sounds like a heck of a facility.

“It sounds like a research facility and a veterinary hospital,” he said. “Seventy dogs at $3.5 million a year, that's an expensive dog.”

Eric White can be reached at 215-957-8148 or ewhite@phillyBurbs.com.

From the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site.

Ministry of Public Security: Dog breeding and training program for security purposes
26 Mar 2008

In today's era, when fighting crime and global terror is on the top of the public agenda, the use of trained dogs in the security and policing field both in Israel and abroad has become more and more common and efficient. The dogs are trained to detect drugs and any other contraband substances that can be used in a terrorist attack or criminal acts.

Photo: Ministry of Public Security

As the police officers were packing up their gear and were about to wrap up another successful police raid in a northern city in Israel, Leo started barking. He refused to leave the scene; he found something suspicious during his final search. Lo and behold, Leo came up with another well hidden stash of drugs which the police officers would have left behind.
As Leo's trainers/operators congratulate him for another well-done mission, not even they could imagine the incredible affect Leo has had on others' lives, before he even went out on his first police operation.

Leo is a native Israeli born Springer Spaniel trained to detect illegal narcotics and explosives for the Israel Police. He was born, raised and trained in the Israeli training program located in the heart of the Manof Youth Village in northern Israel, designed to breed and train dogs for security purposes, while involving youth at risk.

A special program located in a special place

The unique program is the outcome of the growing demand for trained working dogs for security purposes and the difficulty to find high quality purebred dogs fit for the nature of this demanding work. In today's era, when fighting crime and global terror is on the top of the public agenda, the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Public Security, the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service joined forces with the Rural Education Administration in the Ministry of Education and created a dog breeding and training program around the children of the Manof Youth Village.

The Manof Youth Village grants a once in a life time opportunity to youth at risk who have experienced academic, social and family shortcomings and haven’t succeeded in past educational frameworks. Manof opens new doors for these youngsters, allowing them to blossom andrealize their potential in a wide variety of subjects such as manufacturing, engineering, pastry cooking, dog breeding and training, graphic design, hair design and economics and management.

The Manof Youth Village was founded in 1975 and consists of 180 students on campus in northern Israel. In 1999 the kennel was established in memory of Uriel Bar Maimon, a student of Manof who was killed during his service in the Israel Defense Force, andin 2006 it was transformed into a professional breeding and training ground with over 100 canines, led by the headtrainer, Arkadi Schulman, an army veteran with over 30 years of experience.

The Manof campus is situated in the pastoral area of northern Israel composed of green grass, modern buildings and sports and educational facilities. During the day the students carry out a regular high school schedule including studies and extra curricular activities. Towards the afternoon, the members of the canine study track make their way to the pound to spend time with their four-legged friends.

During the day the dogs spend their time with the professional trainers training for drug and explosive detection, patrol methods and other police work. They are cared for and played with by the students of Manof. During the day the youngsters feed the dogs, take them out for walks and play time, accustom them to public areas and assist in their training.

Throughout the program, the students learn to care for the dogs and train them, learn about communicating withthem and understanding their 'language' and senses - all while learning the fundamental values of patience, tolerance and mutual understanding. The program creates a bond between the teenagers and the dogs which causes a positive change in their self confidence, interpersonal relations and everyday life - allowing them to deal with decision making, problem solving and conflict management.

A win-win situation: the Manof success story

Joy, a German Sheppard, graduated the Manof training program as a drug sniffing dog and joined the Israel Police immediately afterwards. Joy was assigned to the southern district, and after going through police operational training, she starting participating in field operations. In a police raid in November this year Joy continued to search the scene even as the police officers were packing up to go. Right before leaving, Joy located a package buried in the ground under an animal carcass containing 11 kilos of heroin.

"My dog doesn’t only work with me, he cares for me. We have a very special connection," says a police dog operator. "He knows exactly what needs to be done out in the field."

The Israel Police was not the only one to benefit from the program. The dogs will never know the incredible effect they had on the lives of youngsters in the Manof Youth Village. Many of the canine training members have graduated high school and were drafted to the Israeli army. Eight members were accepted to the IDF canine units and one student is a dog trainer in the Israel Prison Service.

Before entering the program, many of the students would have never even believed they would graduate high school. "I owe it all to the dogs and to Manof," said one of the students who has always been shadowed by his criminal background and couldn’t fit into any other educational framework."When I arrived here I realized I had a chance to start from scratch. I started studying and learning about other approaches other than violence. Working with the dogs has taught me about patience, care and discipline. I hope to continue my dog training studies overseas."

The State of Israel and its people benefit two-fold from this unique program. The streets of Israel are a safer place to live as the Israel Police officers work hand in paw with their new Israeli trained partners in combating crime. In addition, Israel's society is reinforced with a fresh group of youngsters which otherwise would have little options for getting their lives back on track. The dogs of Manof granted them the second chance they so desperately needed.

As they go their separate ways, the dogs serving the Israel Police and the State of Israel, and the student finishing their army service and continuing with their lives, the two share a very special bond. The Ministry of Public Security and the Manof Youth Village gave them both an opportunity to make a difference.

It's great to see these two dogs — from breeds often blamed for dog attacks — recognized for their heroic actions in saving a child. The story was all over the Internet last winter. The dogs are now being honored with a rare RSPCA Purple Cross in Australia. Well done, guys.

From News.com.au in Australia.

Top bravery award for dogs which saved child
By Roberta Mancuso
March 20, 2008 03:38pm

TWO dogs which saved a toddler from drowning in a Queensland farm dam have been given the nation's highest animal bravery award.

Rottweiler-cross Tank and Staffordshire bull terrier Muck pulled two-year-old Max Hillier out of a neighbour's dam at Andergrove at Mackay, after he wandered away from his family home last December.

The dogs dragged him to safety then stood over the toddler, barking until help came.

The two dogs were today honoured with the RSPCA Purple Cross, joining the ranks of other extraordinary animals in Australian history.

Premier Anna Bligh presented one of the dogs, Tank, with the medal at a ceremony at Queensland's parliament house.

"Since its inception in 1993, only six animals have been awarded the Purple Cross for their outstanding service to humans, or more specifically, for risking their own safety to save a person from injury or death," Ms Bligh said.

As Purple Cross recipients, Muck and Tank join five other dogs and Simpson's donkey Murphy, which carried wounded soldiers at Gallipoli during World War I. The award to Murphy was made in 1997.

The two dogs are the first Queensland animals to receive the honour.

Muck, who belongs to the Hillier's neighbours, did not attend the ceremony.

Max's mum Georgie Hillier said a neighbour eventually found her son after hearing the dogs going "absolutely crazy".

"When she found him the dogs were just going off their heads just trying to alert somebody," Mrs Hillier said.

"Tank was covered in slime, as well as Max, and Muck was actually standing in between Max and the water, preventing Max from going back in again.

"Max had scratch marks on his wrist from where Tank had grabbed him, and he had a gravel rash on his bottom from where he was dragged out of the mud."

Mr Hillier said Tank was a hero around the house.

"He already sleeps on the best of dog beds," he said.

Tank also received a huge bone, a new lead and a packet of dog food for his efforts.

From the Associated Press

Dogs to Sniff Out DVD Piracy in Malaysia
By JULIA ZAPPEI

Paddy and Manny are the new dogs on the block. (Photo from the BBC.

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian authorities said Monday they hope two specially trained dogs will help police sniff out pirated DVDs and clean up the country's reputation as an abuser of intellectual property rights.

Two male Labradors from Northern Ireland, named Paddy and Manny and trained to smell chemicals used in DVD production, will become the world's first permanent canine national anti-piracy unit when they go into action next month, according to Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

The dogs can't distinguish between real and pirated DVDs. What they do is point officers to hidden caches of discs.

Mohamad Roslan Mahayuddin, the ministry's enforcement director, told reporters Monday he hopes the dogs will help get Malaysia off a U.S. watch list of countries that abuse intellectual property rights.

Malaysia decided to establish the DVD-sniffing squad after a visit last year by a similar team from the U.S. Motion Picture Association. The visiting dogs helped authorities unearth 1.6 million pirated DVDs and other optical discs and equipment worth $6 million over six months, Mohamad Roslan said.
"We found that the dogs are very useful in our operations, especially in fighting piracy," he said.

U.S. studios that are members of the association lost $6.1 billion to worldwide piracy in 2005, including $1.2 billion worth origination in Asia and the Pacific region.

Paddy and Manny were donated by the MPAA, which spent less than $24,000 to buy and train them, according to Mike Ellis, the association's Asia-Pacific director.

"We are not seeing Malaysian products appear all over the world like we used to so it's more now of a domestic problem. And the dogs will certainly help the domestic problem," Ellis said. "It raises the awareness of piracy."

The pair arrived Feb. 18 and are still adjusting to their new handlers and the tropical weather, Mohamad Roslan said, adding that the dogs would likely start their work in April.

Paddy, a 2-year-old black Labrador, is from an animal shelter that rescued him from abuse. Manny, a pale-yellow 1-year-old, comes from a breeder in northern Ireland.

Movie pirates reportedly placed a bounty of $29,000 on the previous team of DVD-sniffing dogs, Lucky and Flo. Mohamad Roslan said authorities were taking steps to ensure the new dogs are safe from vengeful smugglers, though he declined to give details.

From Reuters

Trained dogs to help secure U.S. Super Bowl sites

PHOENIX, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Dogs trained to detect explosives, especially the kind used by Islamic extremists, will help secure next month's Super Bowl, the biggest event in the U.S. sporting calendar, law authorities said on Monday.

An undisclosed number of specially trained Labrador Retrievers has been brought to Phoenix to secure venues for the National Football League's championship clash on Feb 3, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said.

ATF agent Thomas Mangan said the dogs have been taught to recognize explosive materials gathered by the ATF from attacks in Afghanistan, Iraq, Britain and Spain.

Among the compounds the dogs have been trained to detect include TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, used by Islamic militants to attack the Madrid and London transport systems in 2004 and 2005, Mangan said.

"There is nothing better at detecting explosives than a canine," he said.

The Super Bowl is usually the biggest television event of the year in the United States. It is always on a Sunday.

Mangan said the dogs will be used to sweep the 73,000-seat University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, the game site, and a number of other related venues around Phoenix.

Security for the event is being coordinated with eight federal, state and local agencies.

"We want to make sure that the only thing that people worry about on the day is whether their team wins or loses," said William Newell, the head ATF agent in Phoenix. (Reporting by Tim Gaynor, editing by Philip Barbara)