The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on October 28 that detector dog Max, a beagle, has retired from the CBSA after eight years of service.
In the eight years Max has worked with the agency he has made 310 agricultural interceptions and assisted in 72 other seizures including undeclared currency, narcotics, jewelry, tobacco and alcohol.
Max’s handler CBSA Officer Iris Zelter told media that Max will get some much needed relaxation. “Max is going to come home and be a farm dog with my other two dogs. So he’ll get to sleep on the bed, he’ll get to eat as much as he wants instead of being on a diet to keep his trim figure and he’ll get lots of treats just because he’s cute, not because he has to work for them.”
The Detector Dog Services (DDS) program has been providing service to Canadians and the CBSA for nearly 40 years. The DDS has one of Canada’s best detection dog programs and is internationally recognized for its excellence in canine detection training.
“The CBSA’s detector dog teams play an integral role in keeping prohibited drugs and firearms, currency, food, plants, animals and related products from entering Canada,” Ana Maria Coutu CBSA Assistant Director, Central Alberta District said in a press release. “Max has been a great part of the team in Edmonton and he will be greatly missed.”
The Canadian Border Services Agency welcomes Beau, a yellow lab to the team. He has recently completed his 10-week training program.
