The Fabulous FBI Working Dogs

I have always had a high regard for working dogs - those that are used for search and rescue, detect bombs and narcotics, and assist physically-challenged individuals. Working dogs are truly heroes, not just of the dog world but in the human world too. Just imagine the rigorous training and discipline they go through to perfect their "craft." That is why I was pleased to learn that the FBI has a dedicated website for their working dogs. I think it is one way of showing appreciation for such amazing canines.

Simply called FBI Working Dogs, the website is targeted at children to understand and learn how such dogs work. The site is very educational and explains about working dogs in a fun way - from the point of view of the dogs themselves, which are featured based on their duty.

For chemical explosives, there's Kurt, Power, Atwood, Bismarck and Disco. They can "sniff out" 19,000 different combinations of explosives. Wow, that's truly a lot to remember! Three of them are based in Washington, DC., one in Philadelphia and one in Los Angeles. I think Disco, being in Los Angeles, has the most "glamorous" duty, going to such events like the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe to help ensure safety of the Hollywood stars.

For detecting narcotics, there's Axel, a German Shepherd-Rotweiller mix, that was rescued from the pound. In her story, she mentioned about going through a truckload of pineapple searching for drugs. Yeah, that was "prickly" indeed!

The FBI also has Lady and Drago for search and rescue. They help during rescue operations especially when natural disaster strikes like earthquakes or hurricanes. They track people who are trapped or missing, and they can sniff them out even when they are underground or underwater.

Finally, there's Malea, a service dog. She knows 50 commands such as, turning on and off the light. But according to her, her favorite is "lap" where she put her front paws up while her handler gives her a hug. Malea is probably similar to those that wear a vest that says, "Don't pet me. I'm working."

These working dogs' stories are truly heartwarming. They work hard, but they play hard too. They take their duties seriously, but they never forget the "pet" side of them. But what is more interesting is, not all the dogs were from a special breeder. Axel, the narcotics dog, came from a pound, while Lady was adopted after she was hit by a car. Both are now helping rescue or protect people.

The next time you are thinking of getting a pet which you might want to train as a working dog in the future, check out your local animal shelter. You may just find the world's next canine hero.

For more information on the FBI Working Dogs, visit their website at http://www.fbi.gov/kids/dogs/doghome.htm.