Velvetleaf Threat: North Island growers urged to stay vigilant
A recently held arable field day in the Manawatu brought with it a timely reminder to be on the lookout for velvetleaf incursions.
Working biosecurity detector dog Aria gave birth to the beagle puppies (three boys and three girls) in March. They are collectively called "G-litter".
The floppy-eared puppies will undergo intensive training to work at New Zealand's ports and airports where they will sniff out food, plants and other items that could pose biosecurity risk to New Zealand.
But before they begin training they need names beginning with the letter "G", says Brett Hickman, MPI's detection technology manager.
"As a way to promote biosecurity among school children, we're asking classrooms to send in naming ideas for one of the female puppies.
"Last year, we received an overwhelming response to our competition to name two beagle puppies from our F-litter. We're hoping for a similar response this year.
He says MPI has been breeding beagles for 21 years as biosecurity detector dogs. During this time it has produced more than 30 litters.
"Beagles from the MPI breeding programme have an excellent track record for protecting New Zealand from unwanted pests and diseases.
"The G-litter puppies have some very big paws to fill."
Details about the competition can be found on the MPI Detector Dog Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/MPIDetectorDogs
The puppies can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgjpd9xfeo8
