Monday, 02 May 2016 11:55

Name a puppy

Written by 
Before the puppies begin training they need names beginning with the letter "G". Before the puppies begin training they need names beginning with the letter "G".

The Ministry for Primary Industries is giving New Zealand schools a chance to name one of its six new bisecurity puppies.

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 

More like this

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an 8-hour marathon hearing.

MPI 'forced' to make significant staff cuts

The Ministry for Primary Industries is facing the prospect of a 7.5% cut in its budget for the new financial year as part of the new government’s cost cutting exercise.

Waikato cattle farmers fined $23,000

A Waikato cattle farming family have been fined $23,000 for failing to provide sufficient food and care for their animals, resulting in more than half a dozen animal deaths.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

AGTEK and ARGO part ways

After 12 years of representing the Landini and McCormick brands in New Zealand, Bay of Plenty-based AGTEK and the brands’…

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter