Different dogs are there for different reasons: Therapy dogs and other small pets are there with their humans as they travel. Other dogs are there to work.

Especially since the 911 tragedy, bomb-sniffing dogs have been present at almost every airport.

They have a much better track record of sniffing out trouble (no pun intended) than most human security guards armed with technological superior tools.

Then there are special dogs that search out illegal substances and are front-line soldiers in the country’s war on drugs.

But in the San Francisco International Airport, there’s one little dog that’s a little different from all the rest.

He might walk right by a bomb without blinking an eye. He might even pass up a bundle of marijuana.

But try to sneak some curry leaves or jasmine on one of his flights, and you’ll quickly be at the business end of a very angry beagle!

The official job of Skipper the Contraband Sniffing Beagle is to locate undeclared produce, plants, and meat that could potentially introduce harmful pests into California.

Skipper is now responsible for more than 20,000 seizures – shattering the former Port of San Francisco record of 14,000, according to Peter De Souza of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Skipper’s handler.

“He knows when we’re out here, we’re working. And it’s not so much working for him – it’s a game,” De Souza said.

“Find an item, you get a treat.”

And some items, like curry leaves and jasmine, earn Skipper a big treat.

“He’s pulled me the full length of our carousels to jasmine because he knows he’s going get a big treat for that,” De Souza said.

Not a bad life for a little guy that started life as nothing more than a number in a Michigan shelter!

Lucky for him, a shelter staff member recognized his rare talent and desire to work, and he was sent for training at the National Detector Dog Training Center in Georgia.

From there, he made his way to California and into dog sniffing history books as the best of the best.

At 8 years old, he’s hard at work every day trying to find the bananas and oranges and other seemingly innocent contraband that well-meaning but ignorant travelers try to sneak on board.

California has a $54 billion a year agricultural industry, and thanks to Skipper and his cohorts, its safety is ensured.

“As long as he’s finding something, he’s happy to keep going,” De Souza said.

Carry on, Skipper. We salute your efforts! And we promise we won’t attempt to sneak any bananas or curry leaves into the airport.

Not on your watch anyway!

Source: I Heart Dogs

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