The U.S. military has used detection dogs for more than a century to sniff out bombs and land mines. In response to the disastrous outbreak in Britain, which has spread to Ireland and the European continent, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is deploying extra beagles across the country to smell food products and soil on travelers' shoes that might carry traces of the dreaded virus. Diminutive and cheerful, the beagles are on duty at 23 U.S. airports, checking out luggage, mostly that of passengers arriving from Europe. The dogs are not used at Detroit Metro Airport. Hundreds of thousands of cows and sheep are being destroyed in Britain to contain the disease, devastating the livestock industry, and U.S. agriculture officials are determined to avoid such a calamity here.
Comet bounds around luggage and people, tail wagging, nose twitching.
When he picks up the scent of meats, fruits or vegetables, he sniffs furiously and stays put. Comet is clearly well-trained. When Comet picked out one piece of luggage, Ilka Matthes, his human partner, gave him a bite of beef jerky from a small black pouch attached to her belt and then quietly questioned the bag's owner. As frequently happens, the traveler readily admitted carrying a forgotten apple or other piece of fruit. They don't seem to mind being regulated by a beagle.