see also: in May 2004:   CBP Border Patrol Nabs 3 Men and 3,000 lbs Of Dope   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Seize Over 10 Tons of Marijuana In a Three-Day Period Along Southwest Border   CBP Officers Seize Almost 6,000 Pounds of Marijuana at Otay Mesa Cargo East Facility   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Modifies Procedures Regarding Entry Requirements of Foreign Journalists   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces that Port of Tokyo Becomes 19th Container Security Initiative (CSI) Port to go Operational   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Over 10,000 Pounds of Marijuana in the Rio Grande Valley Overnight   First Class of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists Begins Training ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Washington, D.C.- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner is pleased to announce that seven black Labrador Retriever puppies were born yesterday, May 4, at the CBP Canine Enforcement Training Center.

"The CBP Breeding program is a fantastic way of acquiring valuable detector dogs. Currently, the program has produced 111 puppies in 18 litters," said Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. "These Labrador Retriever puppies are the next generation of CBP detector dogs."

In September 1998, the United States Customs Service received 12 Australian Customs detector dogs with the working bloodlines necessary for starting a breeding program. These dogs became the nucleus of Customs breeding program. To keep the program going, CBP canine enforcement officers select top field trail dogs (champion Labrador Retrievers in the United States), outside the current gene pool as the sire. All dogs that are candidates for the breeding program are researched for pedigree and background and are either Amateur Field Champions or National Field Champions. The puppies born today have the genetic make up and the behavioral traits necessary for high quality detector dogs.

"The CBP's Canine Enforcement Program fully supports Commissioner Bonner's mission of anti-terrorism and national security," said Lee T. Titus, Director of the Canine Enforcement Program. "Our new Lab pups will certainly be raised and well trained to be used in our anti-terrorism efforts to protect our nation's borders."

Recruiting dogs capable of being trained for detection work is extremely difficult. Typically only one in every 70 canines recruited is deemed suitable for training. A detector dog needs to possess confidence in unfamiliar environments and have a strong retrieval drive.

At the age of 10 - 12 weeks, these puppies will be fostered out to various families. If you are interested in being a foster parent for these or future puppies consult the web site for additional information at www.cbp.gov.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation's borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.