Latest news with #PoliceDog
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This dog used to sniff out cold cases for police. Now she's saving bees.
Equipped with her own tailored bee suit and a hood to cover her floppy ears, Maple - a former police dog - has an important retirement task: helping save thousands of honeybee hives. The canine has spent the past five months sniffing Michigan bee colonies for American foulbrood, a highly contagious bacteria that's fatal to the insects. Maple, an English springer spaniel, uses her extraordinary sense of smell as a 'high-speed screening tool' to prevent beekeepers from having to manually inspect every hive. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. American foulbrood only becomes detectable to humans by smell when it reaches severe infection, at which point the colony risks death, said Meghan Milbrath, a researcher and assistant professor of entomology at Michigan State University. 'She basically just turns all of that effort into a few minutes of her running around sniffing,' Milbrath said of the 9-year-old dog, who works at MSU's Pollinator Performance Center. The ultimate goal is for Maple's work to serve as a blueprint for teaching canines to detect honeybee diseases. It's part of a larger bee conservation effort in a record-breaking year for colony death in the United States, according to a survey by Apiary Inspectors of America, Auburn University and Oregon State University. The losses appear primarily driven by pesticides, pathogens, poor nutrition and pests, Milbrath said. The colony losses, estimated at 56 percent in the year beginning in April 2024, result in an 'increasing challenge to meeting the demand for crop pollination and honey production in the U.S.,' the survey said. Maple follows the paw prints of other 'bee dogs' across the country that have delved into conservation - including Darwin, a German shorthaired pointer in North Carolina; Mack, a retired Labrador retriever from Maryland; and Mack's successor, Tukka, a springer spaniel. Maple's crossover into bee conservation came after she medically retired from police work, said her longtime handler, Sue Stejskal, who is also new to beekeeping. Stejskal said Maple took a misstep and got injured while they were working on a cold case in Canada, forcing her to step away in April 2024 after seven years as a human-remains detection dog. Stejskal retired alongside Maple. Fortuitously, Stejskal was introduced to Milbrath around the same time that the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture opened applications for grant funding. The team at MSU pitched a project on developing beekeeper resources and managing bacterial disease, agreeing that Maple and Stejskal would bring the expertise needed for the endeavor. Although Maple's new 'target odor' is distinct from her previous job, Stejskal said the fundamentals remain the same. Handlers expose the canines to a scent, offer a reward and teach the dog to conduct an action that means they've found the odor they're looking for. In Maple's case, she sits when she detects the smell. But bee colonies introduce many new and exciting smells for a dog's finely tuned nose. Stejskal said she has to train Maple to be familiar and comfortable with the new environment so the pup can focus on the target odor. 'And then the caveat with working around bees is, we had to outfit her,' Stejskal said. Stejskal worked with her daughter-in-law to fashion personal protective equipment for Maple. The duo picked out a children's bee suit and modified its measurements, though Stejskal said they were still perfecting it. Stejskal adjusts the bee suit to match the weather, at times adding a cooling vest, and she ensures Maple takes water breaks when necessary. Maple also wears dog boots to complete the outfit. Stejskal said she and Maple - a family since the dog was 10 weeks old - have enjoyed delving into bee conservation together. 'It's both of our retirement things. She's happy; it works for her,' Stejskal said of Maple. 'I call it work; for her, it's play.' Related Content He builds sand sculptures for joy. A huge carving of Crocs put him on the map. Why we're still obsessed with Lindsay Lohan They once shared recipes. Now her family is going hungry in Gaza.
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- RNZ News
Northland man charged with injuring police dog, drug-related offences
File image. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller A Northland man has appeared in court charged with injuring a police dog and a raft of drug-related offences. Marshall James Dennis Joyce was arrested after a traffic stop in Whangārei early on Sunday morning escalated into what police described as a violent assault. The 47-year-old Ruakākā man was charged with assaulting police, injuring a police dog, possession for supply of methamphetamine and cannabis, possession of cocaine and LSD, and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was remanded in custody after Monday's appearance in the Whangārei District Court. He is due back for a list hearing by audio-visual link on 13 August. Police said the dog suffered an eye injury and underwent urgent veterinary treatment. Its current condition is not known. Earlier, Northland's top cop, Superintendent Matt Srhoj, said a police dog handler stopped a car on Kahiwi Street, in the suburb of Raumanga, just before 4.30am on 20 July. The dog handler spotted drug paraphernalia inside the car but the driver became aggressive before a search could be carried out. Srhoj said extra officers were sent to the scene as his aggression escalated, with pepper spray, a taser and the police dog all deployed. As well as methamphetamine, LSD tabs, cannabis and cocaine, police seized more than $5000 in cash. Srhoj said it was fortunate the police officer was not seriously injured, but the dog suffered a scratch to one eye and required urgent treatment. The 47-year-old man sustained minor injuries and was taken to Whangārei Hospital. Srhoj praised the officers who rushed to the scene to support their colleague. "We have no tolerance for unprovoked violence, especially directed to our staff who are just doing their jobs," he said.
CBS News
25-06-2025
- CBS News
Man accused of kicking K9 at Dulles International Airport so hard "he was lifted off of the ground"
An international traveler was arrested after allegedly "maliciously" assaulting a police K9 at Dulles International Airport, kicking it so hard it went airborne, according to a federal air marshal. According to an affidavit, Hamed Aly Marie allegedly attacked the Customs and Border Protection K9, named Freddy, as it was helping screen luggage Tuesday at a baggage claim area where EgyptAir flight 981 luggage was being deposited after arriving at the Washington, D.C., area airport. Freddy, a beagle "trained to find illicit agricultural contraband," was helping with screening in the baggage claim area when he "alerted to a piece of luggage" and tried to inspect it further, the affidavit said. Marie, the owner of the luggage, came over to the dog and an agent and started talking to the agent, according to the affidavit. "Shortly after the conversation began, Marie kicked K9 Freddy. K9 Freddy was kicked so hard that he was lifted off of the ground. K9 Freddy was injured and was taken to the veterinary emergency room," the affidavit said. Marie was arrested Wednesday and is charged in a U.S. District Court in Virginia with willfully and maliciously harming a police animal. No plea had been entered in the case as of Wednesday evening, nor is there a listed defense attorney. The charging document does not specify Marie's country of origin, but the court reports that an interpreter has been secured for him.
