‘Rocky’ Nominated for Paws to Recognize Tribute

Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Deborah J. Spero announced that Rocky, a four-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever mix, and CBP Canine Officer Eva Lingenfelter were selected from over 1,100 CBP canine teams to represent CBP in the Paws to Recognize tribute to working dogs.

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

“Rocky follows in the footsteps, or maybe I should say ‘paws prints’ of some very prestigious CBP canine teams,” Spero said. “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 said.

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. Rocky works now searching 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.

The 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.

There are more CBP canine enforcement detector dog teams working to keep our country safe than any other law enforcement agency. At a time when homeland security is a major national and international concern, CBP’s elite and highly trained canines are in the forefront of protecting our country.  CBP detector dogs receive specialized training to detect and alert to odors, such as humans, narcotics, chemicals, explosives, currency, or agricultural items.

At U.S. borders and checkpoints, CBP canines can screen a vehicle in seconds and do a thorough exam in minutes. Even a cursory search by a CBP Officer would require at least 20 minutes. These dogs are also able to check packages in a fraction of the time needed by mail examiners – saving time, money, and people. CBP canine officers and Border Patrol agents use these dogs to combat terrorist threats at our nation’s borders, interior checkpoints, land ports, seaports, international airports, and international mail facilities, as well as to interdict illegal immigrants and contraband.