美国国家公共电台 NPR--Bomb-sniffing dogs are in short supply across the U.S.

Bomb-sniffing² dogs are in short supply across the U.S.

Transcript³

University of Pennsylvania Police Officer and K9 Uman, a black Labrador retriever trained in explosives detection, conducting a package search during a routine training exercise.

Wise K9 Photography

It's no secret that dogs are good at smelling and finding things — food of course, but some are able to track a person's scent⁴ or sniff¹ out illegal drugs like heroin⁵, and some are even good at smelling danger. Like bombs.

For decades, dogs have been used by various departments — police, Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration — to sniff out potential bomb threats. They sweep stadiums and airports to make sure they're safe for people. It's dangerous and heroic work that saves lives.

But there's a shortage of these bomb-sniffing canines⁶ in the U.S. — something Cindy Otto, the executive director of the PennVet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania, has been calling attention to for years. Here's what she said when testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee in 2016.

"One of the major reasons for the shortage of quality dogs is that we rely heavily on procurement⁷ of dogs from other countries. By outsourcing our national security requirements, we give up control of the type of dogs, the health of the dogs, and the early training of the dogs. We also are at risk for supply interruption due to politics, disaster, or disease."

Otto was certainly prescient six-plus years ago, as those predictions have become reality, with the U.S. importing about 80% to 90% of its working dogs from Europe. With the pandemic and supply chain issues across the globe, the problem has gotten worse.

We spoke⁸ with Otto for her view of things today.

"Certainly COVID interrupted everything. As more and more countries are realizing the benefits of having these explosive detection dogs, there is a greater demand. And there's only a limited number of dogs that could be sustained in the programs that are there."

The solution, Otto says, is to breed the dogs in the U.S., and that's slowly starting to happen. She says the Department of Homeland Security has invested in different projects like The Auburn Dog program at Auburn University in Alabama that raises "The Auburn Dog."

Not all dogs are created equal, so what kind of dogs are best at sniffing out bombs and working out in the field?

"If we're looking at the TSA, they're really focusing more on the sporting breed, so that's Labradors and German shorthaired pointers. Because our explosive detection dogs are across the board, including in law enforcement agencies, we're looking predominantly at Labradors and German shorthaired pointers and to a lesser⁹ extent the shepherds."

I come from a pug-loving family so I asked Otto if these smushed faced little creatures are fit for this line of work. The short answer is, nope. But she offered this little story that made me smile.

"I have to go to my friend Nathan Hall, who did a great study comparing the ability of pugs to find a treat. It wasn't a bomb, but it was to find a treat in a hidden spot. And he compared German shepherds, pugs, and greyhounds, and it was the pug who came out on top."

Pugs may not be able to sniff out a bomb and serve their country, but they'll always find the treats!

According to the American Kennel¹⁰ Club, all potential detection dogs need early socialization and training to succeed. This includes being exposed to a variety of people, places and noises. If you want to get involved, Otto recommends contacting the American Kennel Club, The Auburn Dog program, or the PennVet Working Dog Center.

1 sniff   

vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视

参考例句：

• The police used dogs to sniff out the criminals in their hiding - place.警察使用警犬查出了罪犯的藏身地点。
• When Munchie meets a dog on the beach, they sniff each other for a while.当麦奇在海滩上碰到另一条狗的时候，他们会彼此嗅一会儿。

2 sniffing   

n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
• They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

5 heroin   

n.海洛因

参考例句：

• Customs have made their biggest ever seizure of heroin.海关查获了有史以来最大的一批海洛因。
• Heroin has been smuggled out by sea.海洛因已从海上偷运出境。

6 canines   

n.犬齿( canine的名词复数 )；犬牙；犬科动物

参考例句：

• For example, the teeth are more primitive. There are large canines and unusually shaped incisors. 譬如，牙齿更为原始，有大的犬齿和非常合适的门齿。 来自辞典例句
• Well-to-canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. 富人家的狗在主人上班的时候可以去狗狗托管中心。 来自互联网

7 procurement   

n.采购；获得

参考例句：

• He is in charge of the procurement of materials.他负责物资的采购。
• More and more,human food procurement came to have a dominant effect on their evolution.人类获取食物愈来愈显著地影响到人类的进化。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

10 kennel   

n.狗舍，狗窝

参考例句：

• Sporting dogs should be kept out of doors in a kennel.猎狗应该养在户外的狗窝中。
• Rescued dogs are housed in a standard kennel block.获救的狗被装在一个标准的犬舍里。