The Pedigree Paws to Recognize program showcases the valuable contributions that thousands of professionally trained service dogs make in our daily lives. The winner of the competition will be announced in a “top dog” awards ceremony at their hometown in September.

Photo Credit: Shelly Myers

‘Rocky’ and CBP canine officer Eva Lingenfelter were selected from over 1,100 CBP canine teams to represent the agency in the Paws to Recognize contest.

Other nominated dogs are ‘Hero,’ a Labrador retriever who visits patients at hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and other health facilities as part of the Paws Patrol; ‘Quanto,’ a German shepherd who's certified in search and rescue, explosive detection and tracking for the Cocke County, Tenn., Sheriff's Department; ‘Xena,’ a German shepherd who serves as a seeing-eye dog in Oregon; and ‘Polo,’ a German shepherd who just returned from a tour of duty in Kuwait with the Air Force.

‘Rocky’ is an explosive detector dog at the Port of Los Angeles. His route to CBP was like many that are part of the force. Unable to keep him, his owner consulted with the Lake Erie Labrador Retriever Rescue. To the benefit of all Americans, the Rescue recommended ‘Rocky’ for the life of a CBP detector dog.

After graduating from a 15-week course at the Canine Enforcement Training Center, in Front Royal, Va., in December 2003, the team headed to their duty station in California. Now, Rocky searches for explosives in a variety of environments, such as cargo, luggage, buildings, passengers, trains, aircraft, and land and sea containers. On an average day, Rocky screens thousands of international passengers, as well as thousands of pieces of checked and hand-carried luggage and cargo.

“‘Rocky’ follows in the footsteps, or maybe I should say ‘paw prints’ of some very prestigious CBP canine teams,” says Acting CBP Commissioner Deborah J. Spero. “The CBP dogs are great assets in our arsenal against drugs, smuggled illegal aliens, and all other illegal and prohibited items.”

The three previous CBP candidates, Jacko, Trouble, and Crazy Joe, were all voted ‘Top Dog’ winners. “All of the dogs nominated in this competition are impressive and deserving of this award for the service they do. However, Rocky has a very explosive personality and should do well in the competition,” Lingenfelter says.

To vote for ‘Rocky,’ visit the Pedigree website at http://www.pedigree.com/PTR/2006/bio_rocky.asp