Public Outreach
| Beagle Brigade teams are often called upon to educate people about USDA and its role in protecting American agriculture. |
In addition to their important detection work, Beagle Brigade teams help teach people about agriculture and the missions of USDA. The detector dog program's special role in safeguarding American agriculture and its public appeal makes it an ideal program, with dogs that perform a service rather than serve as mascots, for public outreach activities. Each team is made up of a qualified PPQ officer and a uniformed beagle, which provides both a spokesperson and an appealing symbol in one package. Because the Beagle Brigade is an actual working program and not a representative character like Woodsy Owl, it already enjoys a high level of visibility at many locations. The teams' daily interaction with international travelers in searching for prohibited agricultural products only serves to increase their recognition.
Traditionally, dogs have been associated with the idea of protecting homes, livestock, or families. By safeguarding American agriculture and serving as goodwill ambassadors, the Beagle Brigade builds on this unique relationship between humans and dogs.
The Beagle Brigade has been recognized twice by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as airport ambassadors for outstanding customer service. The Pedigree All Star Hall of Fame inducted USDA¹s Beagle Brigade into the National Dog Museum in St. Louis, MO, as the outstanding service program in 1993. Several organizations have recognized the Beagle Brigade for its work in rescuing dogs and giving them a second chance.
The New York Times, USA Today, National Geographic, CNN, Nickelodeon, Dateline NBC, Telemundo network, and the Christian Science Monitor, along with countless other local and national media outlets, have done stories featuring the Beagle Brigade. PPQ canine officers and their partners have given thousands and thousands of demonstrations to audiences of all ages. The teams especially like to go back to school and teach students about agriculture. Snoopy is not the only beagle who is a celebrity. At an event, school, interview, or fair, the Beagle Brigade is always ready to greet people with happy faces and wagging tails.